Lakewood Hardware Store

[Jeff Endress]

I'm not sure if it is what it appears to be, but the long empty double storefront on the north of Madison, just across from the new Harding Middle School, is well into the process of "cleaning out". There is a large window banner proclaiming "Hardware in Lakewood"......

Hopefully, it isn't a play on words.....a computer reseller. After losing the Shanty, Meilander's and Bobson's, a hardware store where the unique needs of Lakewood's homes can be addressed, away from the shrunk wrap bubble packages of the big boxes would be very welcome!

Anyone have any further info?

Jeff

[DougHuntingdon]

Sorry I have no further info but Discount Drug Mart does address hardware needs much better than Giant Eagle, Tops (especially since they are now closed), Sapell's, Walgreens, and CVS, if you do not want to go to Home Depot on W117.

Doug

[Mike Loje]

I've heard rumors that it will indeed be a hardware store, and operated by people with longtime experience in the business.

[Brad Babcock]

I've noticed a resurgence in small hardware stores over the last few years. I really liked Bobson's, and I miss them. It is good to see that Lakewood might be getting another hardware store. Since Bobson's closed, I have been going to Torch Hardware up on Lorain. They are a bit scruffy, but the have what I need most of the time. There should be room in this world, or at least in this area, for a Home Depot and a healthy independent hardware store.

[Phil Florian]

I was at a neighbor's place, bemoaning the missing local hardware store in Lakewood that caters to our home's needs and my neighbor brought up this cool thing she read about. In a Seattle neighborhood there is a "tool lending library" to assist residents of their older homes to get the tool you need to get the work done. It it technically free but they have a list of suggested rental fees for the certain tools. Some are ridiculous (do people really need to borrow something as basic as a hammer??) but others seem very cool and worthwhile and even the suggested prices are pretty affordable for things I know I will be needing in a couple years, such as a scaffolding for painting (suggested: $20/week) and, if my bud's isn't a available, a compressor ($25/week).

It would be nifty to have such a place along with folks who are experts in restoring our age homes and access to unique fixtures and items typical in these homes (like Antiques in the Bank).

I have no idea how it stays afloat. It is run out of the Phinney Neighborhood Association along with events in home repair and restoring and so on. Do we have a Lakewood Neighborhood Association? I wonder if this is like the Detroit-Shoreway Development Corp. or things like that?

Anyway, kind of neat and very community friendly.


http://www.phinneycenter.org/programs/tool-lending.shtml

[Brad Babcock]

It is interesting to see that that works.
Does Ken Warren need to add one more room to the Library?
Mostly, tools get loaned around on an informal basis, among friends. There is some stuff there that is down-right handy. I can afford to buy a wheelbarrow, but I don't feel like storing one for the once or twice a year it comes in handy. They seem to be scarce in Lakewood too. That might be useful.

[Jeff Endress]

Does Ken Warren need to add one more room to the Library?

Brad....we're already adding a REALLY large room! Plus, I'm pretty sure that Infinity Construction brings their own tools.....

But, the idea of a tool lending library is very interesting. I know that many of us like to buy tools, even if their ongoing use will be limited. While I frequently use my circular saw or power drill, the same can't be said for the belt sander or brad gun.......but I nevertheless feel a certain sense of security just knowing they're down in my shop cabinets awaiting the call to service.

But there are some fairly expensive tools (like the floor setting nail gun) that are used once. You either rent them, or hope someone owns one (along with a compressor) that you can borrow.

Jeff

[c. dawson]

Actually, as I noted in a post in a different discussion, Cleveland Heights has a program that combines a tool-lending library with hands-on classes to do home repairs and renovations. I think it's definitely something that Lakewood should look at, and see if it can be replicated here, too!

http://chuh.net/homerepairresourcecenter/

[John Palmer]

Just to give an update.

Yes, Lakewood is going to have its first locally-owned hardware store in many years. Lakewood Hardware will be a full-service hardware store run by people that have years in the hardware business. It will also provide services that are very hard to find like pipe cutting and threading, window, glass and screen repair and replacement, key making and lock re-keying, lamp repair, window shade repair and replacement, and sharpening.

There is not an exact opening date yet (permits, etc.), but things are getting close. Kathy Berkshire from the Lakewood Chamber has been in, and has seen the work and talked to the owner. We'll keep you apprised.

And by the way, for those of you who are chomping at the bit to come by and talk to people working at the location, please reconsider. The more people stop by, the less work gets done!

If you just have to contact someone regarding the store, please e-mail me: jpalmer@veritymedia.com. I'm handling their "PR". And yes, in the spirit of full disclosure, it is my brother who's opening the store, but don't let that worry you. He knows what he's doing!

Watch for an article in the Observer soon!

[dl meckes]

Thanks for the update!

We appreciated that there was a window display early in the process of getting ready to open. It made it clear that hardware is the old-fashioned kind, rather than computer pieces parts.

[Jim O'Bryan]

John

It is nice that an Observer is behind the first new hardware store in Lakewood. We look forward to seeing a Palmer in a storefront on Madison again.

If there is anything we can do, just call, you know the number.


.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Update



The sign says it all.


Walls stripped down the the Lathe.


Construction.



.

[John Palmer]

Jim,

Thanks for posting the pictures. Apparently I'm more technically challenged than I feared. I couldn't figure out how to upload them.

It could also be that I've been spending 12 - 14 hours a day working with my brother on the store. I'll continue to share stories as I have time available. Suffice it to say, we've been sanding 3600 square feet of floor taking off 4 or 5 layers of paint in places, and in one area, tar paper! On the floor! What a back breaking job that is! Anyway, the floors should be ready for oiling on Monday. It will look amazing.

Thank to you everyone for your patience. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing it right!

[dl meckes]

No April fool joke -

We had our second visit to the Palmer's hardware store yesterday and bought out their supply of mini flourescent bulbs. We went there after we had purchased a decorative light at Home Despot that burned out as soon as it was turned on. We returned the item to the store and stood for a while, thinking about whether we wanted to buy another bulb there and whether that decision might cause another trip back with another return.

We went to Palmer's instead. The decorative bulb worked fine - as do the minis.

Nice to have a very local choice.

[Ryan Salo]

I went into this new business yesterday and was really impressed. The Palmer's have done something great here. It is a business that has a small hometown feeling with great selection. I am so glad we have a hardware store again!