Best Hardware Store

Despite vocal grassroots opposition to the big-box giant's plan, Suburban Plaza will soon be home to a brand-new Walmart. The main concern among Decaturites - besides traffic and the usual borderline-classist stuff - is that the corporate juggernaut will imperil the little (or, littler) guys who've done business in the area for decades. Among the smaller-box establishments to come up most frequently is the well-loved Intown ACE Hardware on Scott Boulevard, just blocks from the site of the proposed Walmart. Whether or not it can compete price-wise, it will definitely be able to compete in terms of charm, friendliness, and helpfulness. This crap economy has already necessitated some adjustments to the store's inventory - it's begun selling things like jewelry, T-shirts, specialty plants, and other non-hardware items - and will continue to do so to remain relevant in a funky, DIY-minded community that wants to see it succeed. less...

Though the big-box chains certainly sell everything under the sun, we’ve always preferred the mom-and-pop shop feel of HIGHLAND HARDWARe, with its faint smell of woodchips and service-with-a-smile staff. But don’t let that atmosphere confuse you: This store is a serious business with a national reputation for its emphasis on woodworking. Its selection of tools is sold nationwide through both its catalog and website, while classes on everything from power tool techniques to the care and maintenance of finished surfaces continue to elevate the 27-year-old store’s profile as a leader in its industry.
1045 N. Highland Ave. 404-872-4466. www.tools-for-woodworking.com.

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Some folks howled when a new shopping center landed just south of Little Five Points, but the renovating residents of nearby neighborhoods have embraced the big-box charms of LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT. And when we say “renovating,” we mean, of course, the lesbians. This expansive new temple of 2-by-4s sits at a handy crossroads between queer-friendly Midtown and dyke-tastic Decatur, which may be why so many smiling sisters fill the store’s aisles. She’s got a power-sander, you’ve got a tool belt — who needs a deck?
1280 Caroline St. 404-658-8650. www.lowes.com.

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Aside from some after-hours clubs, you won't likely find a place more hopping at 3 a.m. than the 24-hour Home Depot. So if you can't sleep and you're not in the mood for dancing — or if you just want your toggle bolts and want 'em now — this is the place for you. If only the Fuddruckers inside was open all night, there'd be no reason to ever get back in bed. less...

Opie and Aunt Bea would feel at home strolling into this blast-from-the-past storefront shop in charming downtown Norcross. Hey, you can buy a drill anywhere, but you can't get ambiance like this from one of those airplane hangar-sized, big-box hardware stores. From the display of Radio Flyer wagons in the window to the carefully ordered shelves to the couple of older gentlemen at the counter, this feels like a place Ward Cleaver would've been proud to buy his tools. less...