Letters for June 18, 2009
In RN&R's (Reno News & Review)Opinion Column
Since I know the RN&R encourages readers to buy local, I wanted to share a local business that everyone should know about. I have no interest in the business personally and nothing t o gain by giving them attention, other than hoping they flourish and stick around for a nice long time because I enjoy shopping there. (Well, and as a local business owner myself, promoting the "buy local" movement is self-promoting, I guess.)
The business is Carter Bros. Ace Hardware on South Virginia Street. I needed something the big box store slightly closer to my home would have to special order. I could order it myself online, but didn't want to wait for (or pay for) shipping, so I called Ace. They had what I needed, at just a little bit more expensive than the big box. It was worth it in all respects. I got better customer service quicker than it would have taken to hunt down an employee at the big chain store. I felt like I had stepped back in time, wandering the aisles of the neighborhood, family-owned hardware store, where the floors creak and the basement is full of nuts and bolts, and you can find a little bit of everything around every turn. And I felt great, knowing my money is going to a local business run by local folks.
Even if it's a tiny bit farther from my house and a bit more expensive than the big box home improvement stores, my business goes to Ace as long as they have what I need. I love my new neighborhood hardware store.
Marc Tiar
Reno, NV
