Intown Ace Featured in HuffPo
Decatur Metro | January 25, 2013Jay sends along this link to this great Huffington Post article featuring Intown Ace Hardware that details how the store has succeeded in the “shadow” of Home Depot on Lawrenceville Hwy and their plans for the impending Suburban Plaza Walmart. Here’s a taste…
Then, Home Depot arrived.
“We were right in their shadow,” said the 59-year-old [Dave] Jones, who co-owns Intown Ace Hardware with Tony Powers. The giant retailer moved in less than two miles away in 1995 and was selling acres of all the same items that the mid-sized Intown was selling — for a little less. Intown’s sales took a hit. “When they started, we were doing a mini version,” Jones said.
But what happened next serves as a lesson for any mom-and-pop shop out there living in fear of the day Big Box comes to town.
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This is a no-brainer.
Intown Ace. Every. Single. Time.
It’s not because I hate Wal Mart. It’s because Intown is a place that just makes me feel good when I walk in. The great employees, the unique selection, the depth of inventory, and the commitment to the community all factor in my decision to shop there.
+ 1,000. Intown Ace is my general store, home base, home away from home for everything but food. I could go on and on but already have in previous posts……….
Absolutely. Closer, friendlier, smarter, more committed to customers, and more inclined to have the quirky, not-necessarily-standardized, products required by anyone with a cranky old house.
Instead of having a thousand things you don’t need, Intown always seems to have the one thing you do.
+1000
And the best paint counter / paint matching and selection experience in this area…
Ahh, Huffington Post, the Walmart of news bloggerdom. Wonder if the author even got paid. I prefer to keep my blog news local.. (the depth of inventory, the commitment to community).
Hopefully, the increases sales from curious consumers headed to Wal Mart will offset the sales lost to people who hate America.
I keed. I keed.
Huge fan of Intown Ace, but I still miss Bailey’s.
How much is actually finding what you’re looking for worth to you? 10% 20%? It’s time that you’re saving, and usually you’re not buying so much that you need the Home Depot’s quality. Most of what you buy at Home Depot winds up in the back of your attic or basement or garage. Check – you will see I’m right.
Intown Ace is my go-to place. Cver the past 10 years, I’ve bought bolts, washers, screws, lightbulbs, batteries, motor oil, toilet replacement parts, door handles, watering can, etc. AND the best mums, tulips, pointsettias, pansies, violets, etc. AND a toaster oven, notecards, cotton print scarf, Scrabble refrigerator magnets, locally made soap, and more. Love the free popcorn, helpful staff who (within 10 seconds of your coming in) offer to help you find what you are looking for, and great advice on everything from gardening to home repair. Tony and Dave are also fantastic supporters of the community. It is truly the Coolest Ace on the Planet!
Free popcorn? Where? How have I missed this?
It’s telling that he said Walmart doesn’t care after all the posturing Walmart did with Ace — and the rest of us — starting by saying it would not include a garden store, then only include a small garden store. BS. More reason for us to all to stay away and support our local businesses!
Intown Ace is great, but I must continue to express my love for Smith Ace Hardware on College Ave. The employees there consistently have the best advice about all things automotive and mechanical, from engines to bodywork.
Ditto on Smith Ace. I always go (and will continue to go) to Smith Ace and Intown Ace before I fold and try Home Depot. If you haven’t tried Smith Ace in a while, stop in: the folks are helpful and the plant section has really improved and taunted me into purchasing plants (I did not intend to buy but could not resist) over the last two seasons.
I used to live in a small town in Iowa (population 8,000 or so). Our local bike shop loved Wal-Mart – – the owner said he would gladly service any bike purchased at Wal-Mart (including assembly), since Wal-Mart wouldn’t. He sold a fair number of bikes to people who’d had their Wal-Mart bike repaired several times.