The Hometown Hardware Store; Alive and well in Rural America

With all of the big time Home Centers carpeting the cities and suburbs, you might think that the neighborhood hardware store was extinct. Well I'm thrilled to say, they are alive and well and thriving in rural America. Why do I care about old-fashioned hardware stores? No, I don't own one, nor does anyone I know. Ever since I was able to walk, I've had a love affair with the wonderful stores.

When I was little I would go to the hardware store, with my Dad, on Saturdays. While Dad would go right to what he was looking for, I would take a look around. I was like a kid in a candy store. I would linger over all of the nuts and bolts. I was awed by the assortment of fuses, light bulbs, and screwdrivers. I was festinated with the choice, and sizes of batteries. I delighted in the house ware department. I squealed with delight over the animal traps, humane and the other kind.

Why have I always loved hardware stores? I really couldn't tell you. But when my husband needs to go for a box of screws, I'm the first in the car. Ready to go.

I think part of the romance is the folks that run, and work in the hardware stores. They're helpful and always seem to know what you need and where it is. That's something you scarcely find in those hardware super stores. You also wont find as interesting things in the house wares department. In my hometown store you can find all kinds of canning supplies, a large assortment of bottle corks, in just about every size, and cherry pitters and automatic apple peelers.

In the plumbing isle you can find real metal and copper piping, and fittings. Sure they carry PVC, but it isn't their main products. On the nail, screw, nits and bolts, isle they have good heavy duty metal products. Not some cheaper inferior quality products. They actually have many different types, and sizes of masking and duct tape.

Sure the hometown stores are smaller. It's true that they don't carry everything the super stores do. They might not have fancy carts and décor. But there is one thing they have that the big guys just can't copy, that hometown feeling. The feeling that you have just bought exactly what you needed and a little friendly conversation.

So stop into your neighborhood Hardware Store, and have a key made. Then take a look around. You just might go away with a warm fuzzy feeling. You will, more than likely return time and time again.

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