Bobbi Beck has been coming in for 30 years to buy items for her jewelry business called “Hard Wear.” “The people who work here are like family to me,” she said.
Taylor says customers keep coming back because they trust Browns. “They know we won't sell them something that they don't need. Some people will come in and talk to us for 20 and 30 minutes after a sale if we're not busy," he said. "We have a good time.”
Despite its success, this neighborhood landmark could disappear. Competition from large, national home improvement warehouses, known as big box stores, is driving many small hardware stores out of business. Browns' customers say they don't want that to happen here.
Many big box stores also don't provide services like fixing screens. And instead of having to buy a box of nails at the big box stores, Brown sells individual nails that are weighed on a scale made in 1912. “They just want a few, and they love to come back here, and pick out what they want,” he added.
The store also carries soap that Brown remembers from his youth. “There's no perfume in it or anything. It's just a heavy laundry soap,” he explained.
Taylor says some people come in just to look around, and find unusual items like this owl that scares birds out of gardens.
With no family of his own, Brown plans to pass the store on to Taylor. When that happens, a new family tradition may begin. “My son works here. He's been working here since he was in high school,” said Taylor.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25