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The Seattle Times is reporting that the last hardware store downtown is in danger of getting squeezed out. Rainier Hardware apparently has some prime storefront space in the Market and the bane of independant businesses everywhere -the re-negotiation of the lease- is rearing its head.
You'll forgive Seattlest for thinking that the last hardware store downtown has been gone for years. Furthermore, we were under the impression that there weren't all that many left in the city. Chubby and Tubby anyone? That one still stings - The Aurora hardware mainstay could have at least had the decency to be replaced by a Starbucks or something. You know what's at that location now? Stupid Prices. Hardwick's on Roosevelt in the U District has to be holding on by a thread. Lot's of colorfull new development in that area recently indicates to us that Hardwick's is battling.
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Despite the name, "Rainier Hardware" at the Market hardly qualifies as a legitimate hardware store. Most of their stock-in-trade has for many years fallen into the "tacky tourist tchatke" category, and what few actual hardware items they do have on the shelves wouldn't fill a medium-sized "Snap-On" metal chest. Really, you can find a larger selection of hardware items at Rite Aide or Bartells.
Although for most hardwarey-things you still need to drive to a Lowes or Home Depot, at least we still have Pacific Supply on 12th, and West Marine on Denny...
I agree with Chris. I went in there once looking for a hair trap for my drain. When I asked the woman working there if they had any, she stared at me blankly, clueless. Had I asked where the Seattle-coffee-mug section was, I'm sure she would had been much more helpful.