On a quest for some oddball household items, my husband and I headed to Carter Bros. Ace Hardware, 1215 S. Virginia St. in Reno's Midtown neighborhood. Moments after we entered the store, we were greeted by a friendly guy named Ron and asked if we needed assistance. "We're looking for some really obscure stuff," my husband stated. Ron laughed and replied, "Nothing is obscure at Ace Hardware!"
Well, that was what we were hoping. We'd mostly had better luck and more personal service at old-fashioned hardware stores around Chicago and Seattle than with big chain stores like Handy Andy or Home Depot. Carter Bros. Ace Hardware met our expectations.
My husband wanted something to boost a keyboard stand in his home music studio, as well as "furniture feet cups" to keep a sofa and love seat from sliding against the walls. Yes, Carter Bros. Ace Hardware had the goods he was seeking.
I was searching for one of those rubber "gripper dealies" to open stubborn lids on food jars. Carter Bros. Ace Hardware had one of those, too!
Along with all the standard fare you'd expect to find in a hardware store (tools, nuts and bolts, painting and plumbing supplies, etc.), this store carries a lot of crazy, random items such as pickling and canning supplies, a Squirrel-Be-Gone bird feeder and a percolator top from a 1950-ish coffee maker. It's somewhat akin to a hardware store and a curiosity shop rolled into one.
The building at Carter Bros. Ace Hardware dates back to 1947. It's cool that it's still standing and functional. I will say that the extremely creaky floors are a little eerie — as well as the enormous ceiling fan reminiscent of a helicopter that's ready for take-off.
But where else are you going to find Flexible Flyer sleds or wagons that look like they came straight from the set of "Leave It To Beaver?"
Actually, maybe at one of Midtown's antique markets. There's one next door to Carter Bros. Ace Hardware that looks like a good place to check out. But that's a topic for another day.
For more information about Carter Bros. Ace Hardware in Reno's Midtown, call (775) 337-1200 or visit http://www.acehardware.com/mystore/index.jsp;jsessionid=Nw22Q9kCCzD4JscnYDTrWRntbJPLNJzs2hLtTp3gJXhdP5GDxnLk!-215222398?store=14834 .
To learn more about the Midtown District in Reno, visit http://midtowndistrictreno.com/.
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