A hardware store is just a hardware store. The people at Ace Hardware would have you believe that their store is more packed full of hardware than any of the other competing businesses, or that their prices are lower, or even that their hardware is of superior quality. The truth is that you could, most likely, find all of the same equipment for the same prices at the Home Depot. This is not necessarily a negative similarity; the theme of hardware doesn’t support a lot of variety. Although in Ace’s defense they do have a formidable paint selection. Ace Hardware also has a little more open space than most hardware stores; it has a breezy expansive center isle with plenty of room to drag your new sundry items, or roller skate down.
Where Ace really stands out is its service, the sales peoples really know how to simply make sure your needs are taken care of. After all basic service is much more than you can ask from Lowe’s or Home Depot’s customer assistance placebo buttons. I have not yet been able to test the employee’s hardware expertise, but they did clear my lawn furniture obstacle course in very good time.
Ace Ritter in Tyler Texas will unfortunately be closing down this year as Lowe’s and Home Depot have proven to be too much competitin for them. I would run by there and see if their smokers are on sale. Ace Ritter has some remarkable meat smokers that are electric and burn small wood pellets. The meat never burns and the amount of electricity needed to ignite the wood pellets is minimal. These smokers are one of the best niche items Ace Ritter sales and since they are going out of business I would look for these to be marked down. Don’s TV and Appliances also sells this brand of meat smoker so if you wanted to price shop you could check out the two stores.
If you enjoy shopping at Ace Hardware you can still find one in the Flint Gresham area at Kirkpatricks Ace Hardware.