Vanderhoof Hardware Co. — Local services in Concord

I cannot believe places like this still exist! It’s amazing!!! Maybe everyone in this area already knows about this jem but only having left city-apartment living relatively recently, I am both surprised and truly excited that a place like this exists. There are certain demands that arise with having property in the suburbs that I’ve had no idea where to go to have addressed and Vanderhoof has been there for us every time. I needed an axe sharpened—they do that; knife sharpening—they do that too. I went in to get supplies for my son’s pine wood derby race car project, and lamented that there’s not anywhere I knew of that could actually cut the car’s wood block, and the owner’s response: ‘I have a full workshop downstairs, I could do that!’. A refreshing and appreciated response especially after having gone to Home Depot and being told that there’s no way for the machine tech person to even access the blades to the degree that would enable cutting into wood that size. The only thing better than the fact that Vanderhoof’s can do almost everything (in my experience), is the owner’s genuinely helpful disposition and interest in helping people/solving their problems—an increasingly rare quality to see as more and more ‘mom and pop’ shops disappear. I feel so fortunate to live in a town that seems to be holding on to as many of them...

I went to the store hoping to find a charger for my cell phone that I could plug into the wall as my daughter was Emerson Hospital and I didn't want to travel back through traffic to my apartment to get one. A young haughty man greeted me at the door. I asked him if they had cell phone chargers. He said "well, I think you might need a Radio Shack for that", with a really annoying "know it all" attitude. An older gentleman interrupted him and said "we have one right here". Although the charger charged slow for my phone, wasn't HTC brand, it worked and I was grateful. The young man seemed terribly put out that I got what I needed and slammed my debit card and receipt on the counter afterwards! I think he was on drugs! I don't know but he seemed like he thought that he was too good to work there or have...

Vanderhoof Hardware is the best hardware store ever! Not only do they have everything that you might need tucked away (just ask), they will teach you how to use the tool you just bought, or help figure out what is the best approach to solving a home repair problem. Recently I went in with the problem that my kittens were jumping on top of my parrot's cage and sticking their paws through the bars. Scott not only had some ideas for what he could create with plexiglass to keep the kittens out, his creation was ready for pick-up by the time I got home. Creative problem solving coupled with amazing service and smiles. Local, family-run businesses are such a...