Horizon Hardware

Formerly Jay’s Hardware & Industrial Supply, Horizon is tucked away on the edge of suburbia. It’s a little hard to find the entrance, but it’s so worth the trip.
Maybe I’m a little biased, as this is the FIRST independently owned hardware store that I’ve been to since I was a little girl helping my dad find hardware for his latest woodworking project (many years and many miles ago). Now I’m all grown up (we will leave that debate for another day) and now I’m the one going to the hardware store for supplies for MY latest woodworking project. I can’t tell if it’s just because I’m a little hilariously nutty about my projects or if they are that friendly with everyone, but Chris is very helpful and friendly and as I woman that «don’t belong here» (said by another customer, though in a friendly joking manner, as he was just tickled pink by seeing me there), I really appreciate how NOT patronizing he is. Maybe it’s because his wife and his mom are regularly in there (and I suspect he’d get a smack upside the head for it), but regardless, he’s very patient and professional.
Most of all, though, he (and everyone else there) is very knowledgeable. A couple times I’ve gone in asking about «one of those little clip things that has a flap and a little bar that goes on a trunk…» or some very specific and possibly obscure need, and he knows what it is, whether he has any, and if not where I can find it.
They are not hard-​sellers there. They will advise you on how to get it done right the first time, even if it means NOT selling you something.
Oh, and I have to mention Zeus… I only really go in on Saturdays (and an occasional Friday), but Zeus, their big black fluffy dog is always there. He’s friendly but not hyper, so if you ask the owner you can pet him and he won’t jump on you or slobber all over you… And sometimes he’ll put his paws up on the counter as if to say «Hiya! Canz we helps you today?»
Going in I was fully expecting their prices to be scary, as I’ve been a Home Depot slave, but you’d be surprised! I didn’t do any hardcore calculations, but their prices seemed at least on par with HD, and what you *might* not save on price you’ll more than make up for in a pleasant and efficient shopping experience. And you won’t waste money on cr@p you don’t need — or want.
Unless you’re like me and go nuts in a hardware store like a kid in a candy store. I just LOOK at a wall of little gizmos and gadgets and all I can think about is all the cool stuff I could make and do!
Finally, to maintain a bit of objective reality in this otherwise idealistic review, the only thing that might put off a casual hardware-​grazer is that much of their stock is/​looks old. In the majority of cases it’s just the packaging — hardware doesn’t exactly have a limited shelf life. And if you get something that turns out to be somehow non-​functioning they are more than willing to help you remedy the situation.
All in all it’s a MUCH better way to spend a Saturday morning than walking around Home Depot, trying to find someone who knows something about what you need (I once walked up and down the cabinet hardware aisle at HD for a good 10 minutes before I could find anyone who could tell me where the cabinet locks were… And even then I had to flag down a guy from lumber who had to ask the guy making keys…).
I wish I had found them when I first started this project… I probably would have spent *half* of what I’ve spent on useless cr@p and not getting it right the first time. I will definitely go here while designing my next project, if only to get some expert advice.