Whats your favorite hardware store in the area?  I ask, because now
that Schlenker's is closed, it seems that I've gone to some of the
other places in town, and not found what I wanted.  Schlenker's always
had what I wanted.
   So far, the place on Stadium seems to be the best place.  I don't
know anything about places in Ypsi or chelsea, or any of the other
nearby places.
   Are there any old places like Schlenker's left?  Anywhere?

61 responses total.

Have you tried Carpenter Brothers Hardware in the Plymouth Road Mall?

You mean that great two story hardware store where I found exactly the
right paste floor polish...on liberty was it? IS now CLOSED? Argh..
figures...well the one on stadium near liberty is next best I guess...

Hmm...we just had a hardware store item in another cf and/or item. 
East Ann Arbor Hardware is still worth looking at. 

        I used to hit EAA.
        Now I haunt CarpBros on Plym.

        In fact I just bought 475 feet of nylon rope
        for $45 ar CarpBros. My dog is in heaven.

that place on stadium...you mean stadiom hardware?  that's the best
place...they know everything!  :)

When I lived in Ypsi, near Golfside and Washtenaw, I would usually go to
either HQ on Carpenter or Builder's Square on Washtenaw. I don't like those
massive "We've got EVERYTHING" stores, because they usually don't. I was
introduced to Schlenker's when I worked at the downtown parking garages
because the company had an account there. Sure, you could find common items
cheaper elsewhere, but you never get the same warm fuzzies. Now I often go
to the Barnes ACE store on Stadium near Pauline.

Schlenker's is irreplaceable for the many items they sold that other hardware
stores don't sell. However, for practical purposes, Stadium Hardware, on W.
Stadium near Liberty, gets my vote every time. Ace is also on Stadium, but
loses out in my book, hands down.

As eeyore put it -- they know everything. 

I hate those huge stores too.  I went the rounds on these last year 
when I was trying to find a Black and Decker snake light for my mom for
Christmas.  I got lost in HQ, and it took me forever to find my way out.
Finding things in DOOM is easier than getting around.

For honest to god hardware, we go to East Ann Arbor or Carpenter Bros.
For cool kitchen and bathroom stuff, we go to Ace on Stadium.

I did most of my shopping for Performance Network at Stadium, and have been
happy there.  Schlenkers was for emergencies and hard-to-finds.  Carpenter
Bros is also a really good place, with good selection and knowledgeable
staff.
Madison Electric, on Jackson, has massive quantities of electrical, much of
which you won't find in the hardware stores, and some general hardware, but
not much.
And for plumbing stuff, The Gage Co, Ann Arbor Pipe and Supply, on State
just south of Stimson, is a good place.  They have extensive stock,
knowledgeable, but gruff, and not friendly staff.  They are used to serving
contractors who know exactly what they want.

I vote for Stadium Hardware.  Schlenkers was great for oddities but quite
expensive too.  I also like Hackney Hardware in Dexter and I'm told there
is one in Chelsea too.

Another vote for Stadium Hardware here.  I recently had to buy a lavatory
drain pipe, and since I had some time, I thought I'd compare prices between
Stadium and Ace.  Turns out Ace was nearly twice as expensive for the same
item.

agora item 15 is now linked to the consumer cf as item 76.  The consumer
cf is where we also discuss issues like this, and where consumer-oriented
items from other conferences, like agora, get archived.
 
More on track with this item, I was sad to see Schlenker's Hdwe. close,
but also thought they were fairly expensive.  Now I tend to go to East AA
and Stadium Hdwe. about equally.  The last time I needed hardware it was 
Stadium I chose, mostly because they are closer to my home than East AA.
I could probably lose the better part of the day in there...looking at
stuff.

Re 4:  Did he hang himself?

Re 13.  Heh.

Another peculiar hardware store I haven't seen mentioned (though I've only
been there once) is on the northeast side of Packard, a few blocks south
of Stadium.  It's in a south-facing small mall type building.  I don't
think it's doing very well (if it even still exists at all).  Anyone know
anything about the place?

Jack's Hardware.  Family owned and operated.  Nice people, decent selection,
not well organized, but if you ask, they'll be able to direct you to most
whatever you want if they have it.  I don't remember how prices compared, or
the quality range of the product....

BTW, I used to work with Jack Travis' wife Barbara at a rental agency in 1983.
(That's the "Jack" in "Jack's Hardware").

I just went to Stadium Hardware, trying to find something odd
(some hardware in 7/16x20, mild steel or stainless steel).  No
luck.  I guess there are some things even they don't have.

did you ask?  ive found that if you ask there, they can find just about
anything!  :)

I asked.  The only 7/16x20 externally-threaded stuff they had was
a grade 8 bolt, and I need to center-drill it.... doesn't work. ;-)

I was at Fingerle Lumber yesterday and noticed some threaded stock
there.  Don't know if it went up to 7/16th." though.

If it's 20 threads per inch, I'll buy one unit's worth.

Have you tried Fastenall Co. at 2990 S. Industrial?  Or, perhaps,
Dexter Fastener Tech. Inc. @ 2110 Bishop Circle, Dexter?

I like the Western Auto on Wrighttsboro Rd.  It might be quite a trip for you
though since I live in Augusta.  You probably wouldn't enjoy the "scenery"
as much as I do though........Sorry guys.... >8-9

Sorry, I was being unduly influenced by Cali... help me....

who me???????
*batts her eyelashes innocently*
don't you know, i'm a sweet lil innocent thing?
*giggles*

One of best features of Stadium Hardware is the sense of humor, dry humor
dating back through to a previous owner.  

Would you elaborate, Ben?

wow! i never went to Western Auto on Wrightburo Rd.  Hmmm..a nd such a "view"
too from what audrey say.. maybe the next time my fan belt slips off i will
take a visit
althought i can change the damn fan belt myself now! wow! what women can do
now! so special!  =P

 hint: keep odd tools and other weird procuts in the trunk of your car. you
may not know what they are for but hey! if you got an imagaintion you can find
a use!

When all you have is a whosiewhatsie, everything looks like a thingamajig.

I never go anywhere without my sonic screwdriver! :)

sonic screwdriver?
did you get that at that drive in restaurant that sells hamburgers and chili
dogs?

daleks?

Sonic screwdrivers come in handy when your Sega Genesis needs a tune up. ;)
<wolf hold two wooden spoons over his head and runs around after other
screaming "EXTERMINATE!!">

dry humor is kind of hard to explain.  Its most artistic form is MT's
celebrated jumping frog (more sophisticated than I can really understand).
It is the kind of humor you appreciate and think about rather than laugh
out loud about.  Again, Mark Twain describes it in his article on telling
jokes.  The American never even smiles while telling a story while the
Briton laughs very hard while telling the story.  When done well on the
day to day basis it just kind of happens and can't really be repeated out
of context.  I grew up on it during the dust bowl days in Kansas.

Dust Bowl days in Kansas.  That is pretty dry.  Maybe it takes a certain
amount of desiccation to learn this skill.  

I understand and am conversant in dry humour, even wry humour.  I just 
didn't understand what it was you were refering to as the dry humour of
the store in question.  

sometimes conversations in Stadium Hardware can be of the humorous type,
was all I meant.

I thought you meant something specific, and here i was thinking, i don't get
it...  oh well.  back to hardware...

I was gonna talk about the time i was at ACE Hardware, and bought a sunflower,
....and the guy that waited on me.... woo hoo!

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss