Lowes To Close Orchard Hardware Stores

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The total of "under-performing" stores to be shuttered here was reported to be 51...at first count. But not to worry, Lowe's CEO Marvin Ellison considers associates nothing more than chattel. He thought the same thing while running  J.C. Penney into the ground.</span>

 

[rp2813]

So True Joe!

Yeah Pete, the Lowe's CEO isn't quite done inflicting carnage.  I had a feeling you were right about Rona being next.  The nearest Lowe's to me is one of two in the Bay Area that are closing.  So not only did they kill off OSH and eliminate an easy shopping experience within walking distance, but now they've decided to close the next closest store -- one of their own!  They didn't even allow time for OSH refugees to increase sales there.   At this point, I and anyone else who lives in the center of town will have to drive into a neighboring comunity to the north or the south to reach the nearest hardware/home improvement store, both of which happen to be Home Depot.

 

This genius (NOT) CEO won't be with Lowe's for long.  His Apple Store style revamp of Penney's was a disaster.  Why anybody on Lowe's Board voted to bring him on is one of life's great mysteries, and they are likely regretting it now.  Caving under shareholder pressure isn't always the right choice.

 

Fortunately, there's a "coming soon" sign in the window where ACE will be opening up a new store a few blocks from me before the end of the year.  That will be my go-to store for anything that doesn't need to be hauled home in a truck.

 

[good-shepherd]

ACE will be opening up a new store a few blocks from me

If that ACE is anything like the one they opened nearby me get ready to dig deep at the cash register, prices are sky high gouging the locals in a not so wealthy town.

 

[rp2813]

Prices definitely vary from ACE to ACE. 

 

The Los Gatos ACE that I've been frequenting since 1990 has prices that are right in line with or even lower than OSH or the big boxes.  Another ACE that recently closed due to a rent increase had generally higher prices over all.  They even raised the "original" prices on some of their discounted inventory during their GOB sale.  Not good, and I'm not sad about that particular store being gone.

 

I'm willing to pay a little more for the convenience factor of having an ACE within walking distance.  The big boxes are too far and way too time consuming to trek through when all I need is a twin-pack of metal mesh lint socks for the end of the Neptune's drain hose, or to have an extra key made.

 

[launderess]

I'll Second That

Local Ace/True Value hardware has better prices and decent enough selection than anything else in area. Probably next best choice would be the large Home Depot down near Bloomingdales.

 

[supersuds]

Ron Johnson was the Apple genius that tried to make JC Penney over in Apple’s image. Ellison was called in to clean up the damage, after a brief interregnum by former Penney chairman Mike Ullmann.

Ellison’s decision to leave JCP was probably a sign that he thinks Penneys is beyond saving. Anyway...”lucky” Lowe’s has him now.

Another happy Ace customer here.

 

[rp2813]

The Sign Is AWOL!

An article in today's paper reports that the vintage 1948 neon sign (also pictured in Joe's post upthread) has disappeared.  Only the mast remains.  Nobody knows who took it down, but presumably it happened under cover of darkness (which coincidentally comes earlier as of this past Sunday).  It had to weigh a ton and it would have required a larger than average truck to haul it off.

 

The Historic Landmarks Commission, Preservation Action Council and History Park had all expressed interest in the sign, and Google had indicated that they'd like to see it saved. 

 

One of our civic leaders has put the message out to Google, Lowe's and Hilco, the firm that handled the OSH liquidation sale, asking for information on the sign's whereabouts.

 

This just goes to show how much OSH meant to this town where it got its start in 1931.

 

Loading…

www.mercurynews.com