I miss the on every main-street in every single town small hardware store that had shit stacked to the rafters in side and by god that little man could indeed find that odd discontinued in 1971 propane pilot orifice he was sure he "still had a few of around" kinda hardware stores. So many were not even the first generation in the location, kids or grand kids of store clerks from local history.
I knew personally a real genuine master cobbler as a kid my dad used to have his boots fixed at. Could custom build entire shoes, and a son of a cobbler who took the shoe store and trade from his dad when he died. All gone now long ago...

I agree!!!! I miss them too!!! I would rather shop in an old hardware store than shop for clothes. There is one that just burned down about 8 miles from us, terribly sad that it happened. If you are ever in Natchitoches LA there is a wonderful store on the main st......old as the hills and they can find what you need there. https://www.yelp.com/biz/kaffie-frederick-inc-dept-store-natchitoches?osq=Hardware+Stores