Every other store? Hardware store.
I was searching for something on the 'Net tonight, stumbled across this photo, and it made me laugh.
(Original image courtesy of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.)
The original caption is Every other store is a hardware store. And if you look at the photograph, they're right. Every other store here IS a hardware store.
A fifth--5th!!!--"big box" home improvement store (think "Home Depot", "Lowes", etc.) is opening up within 3 miles of our house. Or, if you prefer, within 5-7 minutes of our house.
This "big box" category does NOT include major lumber yards (2 of them) or small-medium hardware stores (over 20 of them) or specialty supply stores (roofing, kitchens, windows, etc.). I stopped counting the specialty supply stores. There are an awful lot of those.
What is up?!
I used to have to rent a car in the early 90's to get to a hardware store that sold power tools larger than a small drill. I have been known to drive OVER THE STATE LINE to look at bathroom fixtures because reasonably priced ones were never anywhere near Chicago.
And why so close to OUR house?
(Adjusts brim on her tinfoil conspiracy hat.)
Are we THAT obvious? Can we actually keep FIVE home improvement mega-stores in business?
Wow. It's worse than I thought.
Looking for More?
| Search for more on 'local hardware stores' on this site. |
| Search for 'local hardware stores' on on other houseblogs like this one. |
| Search for 'local hardware stores' on Google. |
| Search for 'local hardware stores' on Amazon.com. |
Cabinet Refacing:
Face Your Kitchen | Your Guide to Kitchen Cabinet Refacing |
Comments
I wish every other store where I am building a house was a hardware store because it seems like I live there. We are building in a small town and while there is a local hardware store and we try to shop there but often it's a half hour drive to the nearest Lowe's. Have you done gutters yet? I'm getting ready to put gutters in and I'm looking for reviews. Nice site.
Posted by: Jane | July 12, 2004 12:32 AM
You must be spending the big bucks to fix up your house. Just remember that there are 500+ jobs depending on you now :)
Posted by: willy | July 12, 2004 1:17 PM
If we were spending the big bucks, wow. That would be so cool. We'd be done by now! Unfortunately, I think we are spending lots and lots of "little bucks"...it's fascinating how a $50 trip to the hardware store adds up when you multiply it by 365 days in a year...going on two years...
sigh.
Posted by: jm | July 12, 2004 9:17 PM