Slide show: Blackhawk Hardware is one cool store

Charlotte, North Carolina -- One of the slogans at Blackhawk Hardware is “why settle for the ordinary.” Another slogan sounds even more ambitious: “The World’s Coolest Hardware Store.”

Co-owner Barb Wilkerson explained: “We won the first ‘coolest hardware store’ contest from Ace out of about 4,000 stores” she said. And it’s no fluke. The store is well-staffed, well-stocked and fun to shop.

With 30,000 sq. ft. of selling area, the store packs in a classic hardware assortment, a strong grilling department, a massive wall of cabinet hardware, a bath shop and a cook ware area that was in the middle of an expansion project during a visit by HBSDealer.

“We’re very lucky in our location,” Wilkerson said. "Where we are in Charlotte, people have good disposable income, they value their time, come in and come out quickly if they want. Plus we have a broad selection of merchandise for them to shop.”