Why I love St. Paul, MN: Reason # 2

Remember an earlier post where I said I'd start listing reasons why I love St. Paul, MN? Well, this is going to be the last time I remind you and just get right into it next time. Reason # 2: Ace Hardware Store on Payne & Maryland.

I had to get some keys made, buy some nails and do some dirty work w/ the broken toilet chain (gross! toilet water!) -- so I made my way down to our friendly local neighborhood hardware store. I secretly love hardware stores...not a secret anymore! Anyhow, I hadn't been back to this store since 2005 and the minute I walked in and saw 2 cats prancing around and smelled popcorn in the air - I remembered why it's special.

Although Ace is a chain, what makes this location stand out are its incredibly helpful, friendly and patient staff all decked out in required tie-dyed Ace t-shirts, the free popcorn near the check out counter, free coffee and the very real "mom-and-pop shop" feel. You don't get service like this anymore...oh my god, did I just say that? Cripes I'm getting old. I was there this morning and they greeted a customer by his first name when I walked in after him. That's customer service people!

Anyhow, here's a brief history of the store owners from their website:
Kendall's Ace Hardware is a Store with one Mission in mind....and that is to be the "Friendliest Stores in Town!" We hire, fire, train with this in mind. Ask anyone that works at these stores...and they will smile and tell you the same thing! We love it here! Our Customers are a little shocked by the way we run our stores. They say it over and over, "Why can't other stores be like you guys...and....are you hiring?" The store on Dale Street in St. Paul was opened in April of 1992. This being Kendall's first store it became the training grounds for something that would change the way his family, friends and customers would view Retail and any other business that deals with customers. Kendall started working in 1976 at the age of 14 at his local Hardware store in West St. Paul, Mn. and in 2005 he opened his 2nd store in St. Paul on Payne and Maryland. We hire friends and family!!