Like many people, I’m not the most proficient do-it-your-self type person in the world. Over the years when something needs to be repaired around the house, or even at several of the businesses that I’ve managed, I’ve employed a simple, but effective strategy: ask someone who knows. Most of the time that person was the friendly, helpful hardware man. Yes, he is still out there, but he is a dying breed, replaced by the surly high school kids down at the local supercenter who are always wearing a vest of one color or another. If you don’t believe me, just go in there and try to get the two screws you need to repair the lid on your barbecue grill.
When I was a little kid, there was a huge chain of hardware stores in St. Louis called Central Hardware. They have long been replaced by the even bigger Lowes and Home Depot chains. My Grandmother had decided that she wanted an old washboard. (The wooden frame with the ripples that you scrubbed the clothes on using a bar of Fels-Naptha soap) She had a new wringer washer, but she wanted the board for touch-ups during the middle of the week, Monday being wash day, of course. My Grandfather and I we sent out on a mission to find one. The guy in the orange vest at Central Hardware had never even heard of such a thing, but the hardware man at Hanneke’s Hardware on Southwset still had one tucked behind the counter. It was a little dusty, but it worked just fine and he offered to wipe it off for us before we took it home. We even got a free bar of soap.
Hanneke Hardware has been around the St. Louis area for 75 years and has now expanded into 3 locations. The original one is still down on Southwest, near the Hill neighborhood. They also have a location on Gravois in Affton, and one way out in west county. If you put all three of them together, they might equal the size of one Home Depot. They also offer delivery, so if you’re not in a huge hurry, their selection is probably just as good. They also have an excellent relationship with a lot of the contractors in the area who have remained loyal to them over the years. It’s well known in the construction business that this is the place to go if you can’t find it somewhere else.
Schulte Hradware at 7204 Natural Bridge hasn’t grown nearly as large as Hanneke, but still retains a lot of the charm (and the dusty tools) of the old fashioned hardware store. Schulte Hardware has been a family business for over 77 years!
I have a Wal-Mart, a Lowes, and a Home Depot just a few minutes from my house, but when I’m in need of that elusive nut, bolt, bracket, or plumbing part, I head to Scheidt Hardware at 7320 Manchester Road. Scheidt has been at the same location almost since the turn of the century. (Not the last one, but the one before that) Walking in the store onto the creaky old wooden floors is literally like taking a step back in time. Every square inch of this small space is crammed with hardware and tools. The old guy behind the counter with the big white beard, suspenders and pipe is a tad bit grouchy, but if you can get on his good side, he’s like Santa Claus at Christmas if you need help with that home project. The other, more important, customers can wait while he leads you through the labyrinth of aisles that wind through the store. (Watch your head, don’t bang it on the stuff that is hanging from the ceiling) If you can bring in the piece of equipment that is causing the problem, he might even fix it for you right there in the store.
