In the era of big box stores, a day for the little guy

[Old Fart]

Kind of an interesting idea.
 
CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio (AP) — It began quietly, as an email to 40 friends.
But when a steady stream of customers began coming through the door before the family-owned
Chagrin Hardware had even opened for the day on Saturday, it was clear that it had turned into much
more than that.
The idea started with Jim Black, a resident of Chagrin Falls, a close-knit village in Cleveland's
eastern suburbs that is part artist colony and part bedroom community. Black posted the email
to a group of his friends. "Let's show our support for one of our local businesses," he wrote. "I challenge
everyone to spend AT LEAST $20 at the hardware on the 21st."
Although his email referred to the idea of a "Cash Mob" or the notion to "Occupy CF Hardware,"
he really had no political agenda. And it wasn't meant as a protest against the big-box stores that have
created an ever-tightening circle around the community.

For entire article:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/era-big-boxes-day-little-guy-080317993.html

[lakota]

I live only 20 minutes from there. I dont go through there much and just assumed that the big box idiots put them under too. Good to know there is still a real and actual functioning Hardware Store nearby. I thought they were all gone from this area.

[bilmac]

A close by hardware store is a real boon.

[gypsyman]

I've got a family owed hardware store about 2 miles from me. My dad had an account there when he built the house I live in, back in the late 50's. I have an account there. The only time I go to any of the big box store's, is when they don't have something I need. gypsyman

[Pat/Rick]

Alot of times I go to the local hardware store. Higher prices to be sure, but gas to town often is often a balancing act for total cost.

[Old Fart]

Before we moved to town I used to frequent a hadware store in a local small town for odds and ends.
Now I have a Lowes maybe 2 miles from me and tend to run by there.
One of the biggest differences I have noticed is the small town guy usually knew what he was talking about.
But there are a couple guys at Lowes who are knowledgeable, you just have to be careful with the rest.
 
I think if we neglect the local businesses long enough all we'll have is corporate options.
 

[Conan The Librarian]

A lot of this is particular to people who live in suburbs or in small towns where it's not too much trouble to drive to a suburb. I see heavily urbanized areas and rural areas as having real vitality in the way of family businesses. Try going to urban San Francisco or Miami or New York City or Washington DC. The national chains are there, but they certainly don't dominate that environment. Small businesses dominate. Likewise with rural areas with towns big enough to have a few stores.
 
If you live in or near a suburb, you're bound to think that everything is a blight of national chains, when in fact the big chains are just an efficient way of serving the burbs.