Local flavors, helpful neighbors
They say variety is the spice of life. If that’s the case, independent hardware stores are surely among the most flavorful entities in all of retail.
As we here at HBSDealer combed through honorees for the 2025 class of STIHL Hardware All Stars, we were delighted by the eclectic, hyper-local offerings served up by hardware store owners all across this great land. From snowshoes to Cajun snacks, from beekeeping goods to cowboy gear, read on for a sampler platter of regional American ingenuity.
Store: Samson Hardware in Fairbanks, Alaska
Local flavors: Snowshoes, gold panning equipment
Celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2024, iconic Samson Hardware has served Alaska’s second-largest city since its founding. Established in 1904, the store catered to the local mining industry and early Fairbanks settlers, but it’s expanded and evolved through the decades to meet the diverse needs of Alaskans.
Today, Samson carries modern items like LED lighting and SharkBite plumbing supplies, but you’ll also find traditional products like washboards, horseshoes and gold panning equipment.
Samson Hardware serves diverse populations, from a large local military presence to the remote bush market. A seasoned staff offers expert advice for Alaskan-specific projects like well-digging or winterizing homes. Meanwhile, Samson’s active Facebook page promotes niche items like oil lamps ahead of winter storms and the company’s sponsorship of local dog-mushing competitions.
Store: Gulf Coast Hardware in Englewood, Florida
Local flavors: Salty yet fresh fishing supplies
Operating two stores on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Aaron Diaz does a terrific job catering to the local community of avid fishermen and outdoor sports enthusiasts. It has also earned the community’s trust and admiration. When Englewood was devastated by Hurricane Ian in 2022, Gulf Coast Hardware kept residents supplied with plenty of propane, batteries, sand, tarps, flashlights and generators while managing through extensive damage to the store itself.
Gulf Coast regularly supports local schools and churches in their fundraising efforts. Along with frozen bait and fish attractants, Gulf Coast now stocks Captains for Clean Water hats to support the grassroots nonprofit advocating for clean water and healthy estuaries across Florida.
Store: L.L. Green’s Hardware in Hailey, Idaho
Local flavors: Christmas tree permits, mountaineering gear--and dwarf frogs?
When Hailey fixture L.L. Green’s Hardware relocated to a new 14,000 sq. ft. ground up store in 2023, locals of all ages pitched in to help sort products and set displays. That speaks to the love of this store, which has a stunning exterior decked out in warm wood planks. It’s a cozy, inviting place to shop for residents and ski resort tourists alike—and tidy slice of Idaho life.
In addition to birding accessories and pet supplies, Owners Larry and Luanne Green created Uncle Lar's Hardware Emporium, an in-store destination that transforms into a Christmas wonderland every fall featuring an intriguing mix of products ranging from candles, figurines, whittling supplies and greeting cards.
Kids love the array of stuffed animals and can even take home African dwarf frogs in a biosphere. Outdoorsy types can pick up everything from a USDA Forest Service Christmas tree permit and mountaineering supplies to décor and apparel celebrating the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival.
Store: Melaco Sisters Hardware & Supplies in Cut Off, Louisiana
Local flavors: Mardi Gras gear, 'swamp buckets,' crawfish snacks
Vanessa Melancon Pierce and Lauren Melancon Guidry purchased a 75-year-old hardware store in their hometown and launched a full remodel and rebrand. They opened the 23,000 sq. ft. Melaco Sisters Hardware & Supplies in 2018, devoted to being their parish’s go-to for retail hardware, rental, and supplies for the local marine industry. Situated an hour south of New Orleans, the sisters leveraged their knowledge of offshore oil and gas operations to implement a department that can pull, pack and ship any size supply order directly to Port Fourchon.
Melaco Sisters attracts female shoppers with categories and products they can’t find elsewhere. Their active Facebook page promotes everything from crawfish sacks, Swamp Buckets and Mardi Gras décor, to religious items, arts and crafts and boutique gifts. They draw younger shoppers with a full aisle of Melissa & Doug toys and another one full of school supplies and their local high school’s spirit wear.
They’re a premier local destination for sportsmen of all kinds, with several aisles dedicated to a wide variety of fishing, boating, camping, hunting, and marine supplies. Lauren’s husband Cade supplies handmade fishing tackle and custom-tied flies.
Store: Kent Island True Value in Chester, Maryland
Local flavors: Crab pots, marine supplies
Kent Island True Value in Chester thrives in a unique market on Chesapeake Bay.
Serving full-time residents, seasonal homeowners and boating enthusiasts, the store is known for personalized service from knowledgeable staff who are genuinely invested in their customers. Situated near a naval academy, the store actively supports service members and their families with a 10% military discount.
Part of a bustling boating and crabbing community, the store provides essential marine supplies, crab pots, nets and cooking equipment. They also maintain a strong grilling and novelty gift section, staying relevant in seasonal trends.
Store: Zoller Hardware in Cashiers, North Carolina
Local flavors: Hickory rockers, cozy mountain vibes
Nestled among the white pine forest atop the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, Zoller Hardware draws locals and seasonal residents alike. The log cabin exterior and welcoming front porch showcasing Webers, Big Green Eggs, and outdoor décor invite shoppers into the well-stocked store with a cozy stone fireplace.
Inside is a wide selection of unique mountain-themed items and Amish-made Adirondack chairs and hickory rockers. Purchasing the mountain town staple in 2016, Owners Glenn and Kim Ubertino have grown in size and sales ever since.
Store: Choice Hardware & Home Center in Nephi, Utah
Local flavors: Cowboy chic, feathered friends
A cornerstone of Central Utah, Choice Hardware & Home Center in Nephi offers a full range of hardlines, lawn and garden, ranch and feed, paint, and a full-service lumberyard. Owner Daniel Peel recently completed a major retail renovation, significantly expanding product categories and square footage to meet his community’s growing needs. A notable expansion—cowboy hats, Western apparel, and riding gear—a big draw during Nephi’s annual Ute Stampede Rodeo. He also boosted their popular farm and ranch offerings, which include IFA farm supplies, baby chicks (including rare breeds), ducks, and even bunnies. Equine enthusiasts appreciate the extensive Horse Care selection for feed, supplements, grooming tools and horse tack.
Store: Village Hardware True Value in Williston, Vermont
Local flavors: Beekeeping supplies, sweet maple syrup
Located near Burlington, Chris Noyes’ three stores serve a diverse mix of DIYers, pros, farmers, and visiting leaf peepers, skiers and sap chasers. A one-stop shop for animal lovers (with dogs in tow), Village Hardware’s sizable Pet Supplies category gains added foot traffic with its in-store dog grooming area. They host monthly Pawp-Up Pawrty adoption events with Passion 4 Paws Vermont, alongside holiday-themed in-store promotions shared on social media. North Country shoppers come for a vast array of baby chicks, coops, beekeeping supplies, and locally sourced maple syrup, while Vermont’s organic growing customer base is drawn to the vibrant display of live plants and flower baskets.
Store: W. S. Jenks & Son in Washington, D.C.
Local flavors: Bomb disposal equipment
With more than 100,000 items in stock, W.S. Jenks & Son ensures their customers can find what they need when they need it—especially those catering to the prominent electronics and telecommunication industries nearby. The full service hardware store excels in other areas as well, stocking their government service, supply, and logistics department with top-of-the-line tactical, survival, bomb disposal, and communication products. With the tagline “Purveyors of hardware, tools, and machinery since 1866,” plus more than 150 years of experience, you can be sure those products have been tried, true, and trusted by many. And their rooftop is the perfect setting for a garden center and boasts beautiful views for yoga classes and community events.
