Ace Hardware, 300 Knox Abbott Drive (Parkland Plaza): 11 Oct 2008 (open again) 10 comments
I only went to the Ace Hardware in Parkland Plaza once that I can recall. I was looking for a present for one of my little cousins, and ended up buying a Radio Flyer wagon. The floor display looked like it would be fun, and in the end, I think it was, but when my cousin and her husband went to take it out of the box and put it together, it turned out to be missing an important piece. Luckily my cousin's husband has a shop and was able to jury-rig the widget needed to hold things together.
From the Ace Hardware stores I've been in, I would say their concept is to have smaller stores than Lowes or Home Depot, but to have more staff interaction with the customers, something like an old-fashioned hardware store on the Hiller model. Unfortunately, I find the way they do it annoying. I'll have a general idea of what I need, and be wanting to cruise the shelves to see if anything sparks the final inspiration on how to do what I want and The Helpful Hardware Guy (tm) will descend on me and start badgering about "what are you looking for?". I certainly want help available, but I will initiate the dialogue when I am at a loss.
I don't know why this location packed it in -- it's not especially near to a threatening mega-store that I can think of, and was convienient to both the Knox Abbot and State Street throughfares. Guess they just drew a duce.
Hats Off to commentor "Larry" for the heads-up on this place!
UPDATE 23 October 2009: Added street address to post title
UPDATE 8 September 2010 -- They (or some ACE -- I assume it's a different franchaise owner) are back:
10 Responses to 'Ace Hardware, 300 Knox Abbott Drive (Parkland Plaza): 11 Oct 2008 (open again)'
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Larry
9 Dec 08 at 2:03 pm
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I agree with you that I don't like their approach to service ... it's too "in my face" for my taste.
Payne
9 Dec 08 at 4:52 pm
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I don't know about the hardware stuff, but it sure as heck was a great hunting and fishing store with excellent employees and wonderful customer service...
hunter
31 Dec 08 at 7:38 am
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The Ace Hardware on Main Street in Lexington closed a few months ago, as well. I was sad to see it go, as it had been in Lexington for a long time (previously located on Columbia Avenue in Lexington at the current location of the lighting store across from Bi-Lo).
Bill C.
9 Feb 09 at 10:06 pm
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This in your face approach has been a part of Ace for a very long time, being a manager, or even just an employee you have very many return customers and you will have some kind of relationship w/ a lot of customers. This is also why Ace Hardware has been voted #1 two years in a row by J.D. power and associates. Now that being said, all Ace stores are independantly owned and ran differently. Most of these stores also do not have much security, besides cameras, so customer service often turns into loss prevention.
Matt D.
7 Apr 09 at 11:36 am
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Hiller hardware was supposed to move into this store, but according to The State (aka fish wrap), they are reconsidering. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
jamie
2 Jul 09 at 9:33 am
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Ace hardware is reopening this store. There is interior work going on currently.
jamie
3 Feb 10 at 12:16 pm
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The "Ace Hardware coming soon!" banners are up.
Can't come soon enough. I've missed this store.
jamie
20 Apr 10 at 9:21 am
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Re-opened last week.
jamie
16 Jul 10 at 12:23 pm
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the one on two notch road closed yesterday
I'm not entirely sure why they closed, but I can say that the staff I dealt with in the last few days seemed to be angry at the ownership. This was a great place to run for basic hardware if you were downtown. But if you needed anything special it was a gamble. Despite the Ace name, half the space was devoted to a hunting/fishing gear store, and then half the hardware store side was things like cast iron frying pans, yard decorations, and wagons. Just an odd mix of products for a "Hardware" store. With the closing of the hardware store in the vista in 2006, the only hardware left in downtown (that I'm aware of) is in five points. (Sorry, I'm terrible with names right now).