Ace hardwares are pretty kool because they are a franchise and allow smaller mom and pop harware stores to stay relevant against the big box stores!! Fantastic video, thank you!!
Looks like Westlake is owned by Ace: "Ace Retail Holdings, the division of Ace Hardware Corporation that owns and operates the Westlake Ace Hardware chain, is one of the largest hardware retailers in the United States. Headquartered in Lenexa, Kansas, Westlake Ace Hardware has been in operation for over a century and operates over 130 neighborhood stores located throughout the United States. The company was started in 1905 in Huntsville, MO, when W.I. Westlake bought part ownership in a hardware store. The company slowly expanded over the next few decades until Westlake joined the Ace Hardware distribution network in 1959 and eventually became the largest Ace dealer in America." This is from their website.
I love going into Ace Hardware,it has that small hometown feel and they actually have more small plumbing fittings vs home depot, they're more expensive though by like 20%.
I don't mind taking that extra 20% or so hit at my local Ace because the old guys that staff it know EVERYTHING, and if they don't have it they can either order it or will refer you to whomever has what you need locally. Need an utterly obscure canted sprung hinge for an antique German wall cabinet unit like I did? No problem. I doubt any of the pimply teens who staff the big box joints like Lowes or Home Despot, when you can find one, could find their own name tags.
I still remember our local "Monkey" Wards. It was located right in the middle of downtown and you could get anything from home furnishings to farming equipment there. It closed in the mid 1970s. Woolworths was right next door. I miss REAL downtowns!
We had a Woolworths in our little town, my Mom would get our back to school supplies there every fall, but Montgomery Ward's was mail-order only for us. When they were clearanceing the catalog division, I got a good deal on a Tall size Leather Motorcycle Jacket for $40. Made in Korea, but good quality & come with a zip on fur 🐻 collar.
@@jeffreydevoti7000 Sears was a mail order/catalog store for us and it was out on the West side of town. Did your Woolworths have a lunch counter? Ours had AWESOME chili dogs and the best orange soda you've ever tasted!
@@MikeBrown-ii3pt Yes, old style lunch counter, a pet department, which I think they even had monkeys. My brother and I, and I'm sure many kid's like the pets...watch the big bubbling fish tanks. Aways a fun place to visit, even if you didn't get anything. Our town only had a Sears catalog center too, bought a lot of tools, tires, car parts, Diehard batteries. Even ordered 6 volt batteries for old Harley Davidson Panhead motorcycle.. They were square shaped and TALL. It's so long ago, it's almost can't believe the way things were.
We a Sutherland's in Lawton, OK. I like it. They are fantastic. My local one does monthly charity events. They also have fresh fruit sells during the spring and summer.
"You'll save big money when you shop Menard's" Once you hear that jingle, you'll never get it out of your head. I prefer Menard's over Lowes and HD. Better selection and prices. Been to the Northern Tools in Sioux Falls SD and Omaha NE. They just remind me of an overpriced Harbor Freight. Been to two of the Westlake Ace stores in Omaha NE. They're that place you go for a one of a kind part that no one else has. Totally a Crapsman store though. LOL. The really local hardware store here in town is Bomgaars. When I first moved here 15yrs ago, they were partners with Ace. (Most products were in Ace packaging) But they're now their own company, headquartered in Sioux City Iowa. Most stores are small town ones, typically the size of a normal Ace. They do have a few bigger stores in Sioux City though. One store I keep seeing people forgetting is Fleet Farm. Been around since 1955, so they ain't new to the game. Mostly upper midwest stores though. Think Tractor Supply on steroids. A lot of steroids. LOL. That's pretty much what I have for around here. (SE South Dakota, NW Iowa and eastern Nebraska)
Red, you mentioned these weren't based on size of the actual hardware store. Great list but speaking of size, have you ever been to Hartville Hardware in Hartville, Ohio? There is literally a full-sized house on display inside the store. Look up tours of it on RU-vid. You will be in Bearvana.
Being from Pennsylvania, I can say we don't have to many of these places. Of course Home Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight, Ace, Do it best. I would love some more variety and see more of the other brands take roots here too.
Grainger is technically an "Industrial Supplier", and not really open to the public. Wander in there, and the price you will be given will get you out fast.
We have Westlake and non Westlake stores. I shop both and find there can be a difference in inventories. We have Lowes , Home Depot , and Menards Seldom find me in a big box store except when I need lumber. Ace will help you solve a problem as in telling you what you need. Also you can't buy just one screw or washer at a big box store. The cost is a little more at Ace but the conveniience is worth It.
I used to live in Oklahoma. I shopped at McCoys and Sutherlands. McCoys had cheap lumber but it was cheap quality. Sutherlands has a smaller Home Depot feel to it but definitely more expensive than the big box stores.
In upstate ny we have Valu home centers. Sort of like Ace but they have better fasteners section. Strong on stainless hardware and good quality paint. Not yet a large chain but friendly and their stores are busy and they are very adaptable.
Went to my local Ace Hardware today, noticed they have a new Westlake sign on the building. Never heard of them until today, and then you did a story on them! Once again, Da Bear is on the story!
In my area, two Sears Hometown stores and two small Ace Hardwares have closed. Meanwhile, we've gotten two new Harbor Freights and a Northern Tool not too far away.
I tend to go to Big Orange because it's closer to my house, but every time I go to Menards I kick myself for not driving that extra bit of distance more regularly. It's twice the size, has better quality materials, and is generally a better shopping experience. Other than being a little light on the tool brand assortment, they're excellent.
I still miss Eagle Hardware, it got bought out by (B)Lowes about 20 years ago.... I remember walking in after the name change & how inventory switched to mostly fluff...
I am old enough to remember " Joe The Motorist Friend " that store carried automotive, TV Tubes and tester, Hunting supplies, and anything else you would desire.
Eagle Hardware were the most BEAUTIFULLY fixtured and laid out stores. I had to go to Lowes when they were converting the one in Louisville Colorado to provide my services, and saw all the custom displays destroyed and being piled up outside for haul-off. Eagle was like the Cartier of hardware stores.
We have 10 Westlake Ace Hardware within 25 mile of me. Each are just a little different from the other. I think they're a little expensive but they do have most everything except lumber.
Great list, went to Sutherland's in Wyoming as a go to (side note, check the map, as you moved across you said "bama", outline looks more like Mississippi to me!), Hear about Menard's but never been to one (big into model trains so I see their ads in the magazines), 4 (of course), 1, and 2 were no-brainers (#2 being my current go to store, and not just because they treat veterans right).
@denoftools Sutherlands here in Utah has gone out of business throughout last 10 years....I remember several when I was a kid and then I think there's only one little store here left
We had a great Hardware store Pfau’s unfortunately when the owner passed away none of his children or grandchildren wanted the store, so now we’re going through that transitional process and hopefully hire knowledgeable people. God Bless
I'm just guessing here, but I'm thinking ACE True Value Menards Lowe's The Home Depot But I don't know if those two count as hardware stores or " home centers "
I live literally between a HD and a Lowe's (Both are within 1000ft of my house) but I try whenever I can to run into town and shop at our 2 local hardware stores, one being an Ace and the other is a Do it Best location.
How come Fastenal and Graybar didn't make this list? Those are two fairly large chains (granted, they cater to professions and not everyday consumers, but still large chains none-the-less
The Westlake's I have seen occupy areas that have neighborhoods big enough to support them. Yet far enough away from the big boys to be more convenient. The big boys tend to congregate in one area leaving opportunitys on other side of town ripe for them to thrive.
Ace presses FIRMLY to get the store owners to REMERCHANDISE the entire store. They have the pile of MBAs to convince owner their profits will soar, with endcaps full of weird powertools that need not exist ( One was a powered adjustable wrench.... filling TWO end caps..... I believe it was Black & Decker.... but the house brand off-brand stuff permeates the store now..... much like Home Depot and others..... quality way down, profits way up.
Is Hardware Hank’s still a thing? I used to stop at the one on Main Street in Miles City for my cat fishing tackle. I always felt like I was in Mayberry when I went in there.
Westlake ACE owns all of the ACE Hardware stores in my region, including the ACE at 61st and Lewis just up the street from me. At least locally, Westlake ACE is less of a hardware store (albeit I literally expect an ACE to be locally owned, offer a bag of popcorn and literally have chickens wandering the store from growing up) and more of a lifestyle store here in Tulsa. I kinda feel like all they gotta do is add boots, jeans and flannel shirts to their line and they're basically Atwoods, if Atwoods hadn't stopped actually giving a shit about being a farm store.
Seriously love your fursona as it is but hoping you embellish it a bit to make it more your own instead of the basic Facerig bear. Don't be scared of the furry fandom, it's honestly a fun fandom and you can control your character more if you own your fursona.
Can you please do the good, bad, and ugly for Kobalt XTR. I would love to hear from you on how much better in comparison to the regular 24V line and also compared to makita, dewalt, Milwaukee
I'm in a small town area between Knoxville and Nashville TN. We have a chain of Potter's Ace Hardware and Home Centers all over the area. They consistently kick butt on Loews and Home Depot on lumber prices and their hardware prices are competitive, while selection is great. I prefer HD over Loews but the closest is just over 50 miles away. The only thing Loews has over HD in my opinion is a better hardware department. HD appears to have gone the way of Walmart and won't stock anything they can't sell a train car load of a day. My son and daughter in law prefer Loews over HD and I asked him why. He said think of HD as compared to Walmart and Loews as compared to Target. For standard grade nuts and bolts I go to TSC or our new Rural King. How can you beat buying bolts, nut, and washers by the pound! RK beats HF prices on trailer and lawn equipment tire/wheel prices by a MILE. Walmart and I have mostly parted ways over a lot of their store policies and especially trying to get everyone to use Self Checkout. HD was trying to go that way when we lived in FL. I have walked away from a cart of items when there were no attended checkout lanes. I've never trusted Walmart hardware and tools and I see nothing to change my mind. The new tools may be good, but what do you do for warranty. Used to be Sears was the best on handling warranty issues. The only one I trust now for warranty issues is HF. Oh, we also have a Sears Hometown store with a large selection appliances) and a good selection of tools and lawn equipment.
Sutherlands? Man I always thought that was a one-off. There was a Sutherlands in Dayton when I was growing up, but it shut down decades ago, and I thought it was a one-of-a-kind stand-alone store. I think it closed in late '70s early '80s maybe. Harry Epstein! You need to visit Harry Epstein when you go on your road trip. It's in Kansas City. There used to be a Northern Tool around the corner from me here in Renton. It closed maybe 6-7 years ago? Hyper-Tough: those aren't Black & Decker? Really? They look like they just had a sticker change, but it's been a long time since I picked up an actual Black & Decker branded tool.
Seriously love the fursona you're curating for yourself, but have you considered commissioning a furry or local artist to make you a custom facerig chacater instead of the default bear furry one? Please, strongly consider coming up with your own bearsona and finding someone to make your own facerig character for it. You totally own at making a fursona already but seriously, make one your own!
Central Hardware and Builders Square shut down lock stock and barrel in Ohio,Builder's Square moved into Central Hardware then Home Depot came along and shut down Builders Square down the street.
A most notably omission of REAL hardware stores, is Aubuchon Hardware. For ANYONE in New England, life would come to a halt, without knowing any town in the region either has an AUBUCHON hardware store in it, or the next town in either direction will. Company owned, SMALL FORMAT stores. Aubuchon was family owned, not publicly traded. Back when telephones had dials, theirs did not. The phone was a direct line to the central warehouse. You could not call the store, you had to GO THERE. This saved wasted personnel time. Interesting operation, as COUPLES were employed to manage and operate the stores. This eliminated spousal issues with "When are you coming home". They would hire a High School kid, or family member to come in afternoons and weekends. The stores were generally all downtown storefronts, roughly 2000-3000 square feet, whatever was available. They would offer ONE model of toilet, ONE vanity, ONE medicine cabinet, ONE brand of locking pliars ( Vice-Grip )... they did not have space for 4 brands of the same thing.... only the preeminent brand was carried. No-nonsense, cheapass fixturing... bulk shelved rather than bubble packed plumbing and electrical. They had a VERY advanced warehousing and inventory system. The central warehouse, was somewhere in Western Massachusetts.
Red, just bought the Home depot Dewalt 499 kit....Did you have any info on the $248 rolling tool chest you showed on the Home depot black Friday add....
I thought Sutherlands went under for good years ago when they closed the stores here in Texas. As for Mc Coys they are common in south texas and usually in small towns not serviced by team blue or orange. I just want Menards to keep kicking Blue and Orange butt and spread even faster. Way better inventory, prices and just a far nicer store to shop in.
There was a Sutherlands a block from my shop, here in Boulder Colorado.... they were all over the Denver area. VERY well stocked, and well organized stores. Their competitor at the time was Hugh M Woods ( Who had a very common logo as Payless Cashways..... so much so; I am thinking there were a lot of regional lumber chains all under one ownership ) Maybe DaBear can remark on that..... In New England, there was the FOREVER-AND EVER-IN-Bankruptcy "Grossmans" lumber. "Here comes Grossmans"
@@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936 We used to have Sutherlands and Payless before Homedepot moved in and then lowes. Payless was hit so hard that at the end they were having to buy lumber and OSB retail as they nolonger had credit with anyone. They were wanting $15 a sheet way back then when it was $5 from everyone else. Sutherlands seems like they are doing the DO it Best thing where you can buy goods for your store from them hence the Sutherlands Home Base thing that's going on.
@@jonmeyer6063 FF is a "Rural Lifestyle Retailer" and not a "Retail Hardware" store as per the commerce definition of such things. And even if they were their sales wouldn't get them on this list.
Ace hardware stores themselves are nearly all owned by the individual operators of the individual stores. Each owns stock in the company, and profits produce a dividend to those owners and reinvestment in the brand. Link to chronology of firm. www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/economics-business-and-labor/businesses-and-occupations/ace-hardware-corp Walmart is to hardware stores as 7-11 is to surgery centers.... 7-11 sells first aid kits, so I guess they are a medical supply. You could argue more accurately, that Grainger is closer to being a hardware store than Walmart. Walmart is a large format department store. TOP 10 Hardware stores should only count independent, one-off stores. McGuckins in Boulder Colorado is one. Roughly 60K square feet and within 1/8 mile of a Home Depot. Extremely busy store. There was a 3 story hardware store in Nebraska in the 1970s... you could buy farm implements to mink coats. The place was more of a mall at first appearance. ( True Value had a fine furs supplier relationship back in the 1970s. My dad and I used to sort through the weekly RELAYS..... a stack of order sheets for non-inventory or special offerings.... Minks were in there, as were firearms ( for the DIY Mink coat folks, I guess ) Annually, we got the MARKET relays... a carton of 8.5X11 relay order sheets for all departments/categories.... the stack was 4' high.... we tossed the departments we had no interest in, and spend hours whittling that stack down to something manageable. From that stack we ordered the ILCO bicentennial key blank assortment. Keys had a special coining, commemorating the bicentennial... each assortment was 20 boxes of the fastest moving blanks 50 per box / 1000 per case... we goofed up, and got 100 cartons of 1000 keys... damn things lasted over a year.
Just way off topic, but it's 11:30 A.M. and I just had two political ads! If only Bears could hold office! I remember Coast to Coast as kid. Not the first choice. The 11% rebate at Menard's seems to be a permanent sale now. Miss their old sales.
