Smith Ace Hardware

Announced today (7÷7÷14) that this location is closed permanently, and it was time. Many years ago this was one of the best hardware stores in the city and has become an empty shell of a store.
I went to buy a handful of bolts recently and they didn’t even have that, the most basic of supplies.

This hardware store is about the same distance as other big box stores from my house. But there is a reason I usually come here. Everyone is very friendly and helpful and that goes a long way. Not to say the other store aren’t friendly and helpful, but they are overwhelming. This is a small hardware store, has a little bit of everything and doesn’t have to show off to anyone. I come here all the time to get washer, gaskets, hoses, garden supplies, paint and pretty much everything else. I hope they don’t change anything, I like this store just the way it is.

A nice neighbor hood hardware store. Clean, organized and a very helpful staff.

As a young woman, I suppose I looked somewhat out of place — because *every* employee in the store offered to help me! I was mostly exploring, since I just moved in and will be using this store in the future.
The employees were all very helpful in showing me where specific products were and offering advice on selection, etc.
Prices were good and there were a number of things I grabbed since they were on clearance. 99 cents for a bucket? Yes please! The herbs were on clearance since they were clearly too old — a few had gone to flower and one fennel had a ½ pound caterpillar on it. But hey, mint will survive anything.
I will definitely be returning.

I gave them five stars because they have everything I need and because they have a great staff. John Siler knows the store inside and out and will help you find anything. Glad this is in Decatur and easy to get to. Happy that the box stores have not driven this store out of business.

We love this Ace! Best staff ever! Hardware Todd knows right where all the hardware is so you can find exactly what you need in seconds. They are well organized and friendly. Makes shopping a pleasure.

I live less than a half mile away and will drive to the Scott Blvd. store over this one.
Always closing up early, girl behind reg is always having a hard time ringing up anything.
I was in once when an old lady had come in to ask why her return hadn’t posted to her account. She was sweet, old and talked slow. The manager (white male 30ish) pretty much walked the old lady out to get her to stop asking why it hadn’t posted. Then turns back to the reg. girl to say…“your gonna get a lot of this… people who just don’t get it. Drives me nuts all the time”.
Only decent person was a very helpful guy who helped rewire my lamp and sort a few other things out.
Go to Scott if you want nice, normal and people who care…

I used to LOVE this place! I grew up in Decatur and this is where my family and I ALWAYS came to for our hardware needs. However, last winter I officially crossed it off my list and I now go out of my way to the one on Scott Blvd.
It was freezing cold and we needed 2 bottles of kerosene. I was on a cane due to a hip injury and stopped to get these bottles after therapy. I pull up at 2 minutes to closing, park and struggle to get my temporarily crippled self out of the car and up to the curb. The sign still said open, the doors were unlocked. I go in and I’m stopped by the manager telling me the store is closed. I ask, if it was closed then why was he standing in by the door, without keys, door unlocked and «Open» sign still up? He didn’t have an answer. I said, all I need is some kerosene, it’s right there (I pointed as it was right by the check-​out line which had 3 people in line. He then blocked me, nearly knocking me over!
I said to him, «Sir, my family has been coming to this store since the 80s when I was a child! I am on a cane and just need kerosene. Is this really how you want to handle this situation?» He replied with a «Ma’am if we take care of everyone that walks in at the last minute we’d never get to go home!» I finally replied «Thanks, for appreciating my business… I won’t be back again.» This is a great deal of business as me and my whole family live in homes that are at least 15 years old (mine is 40) so trips to Smith’s happened on a consistent basis.
This was the older portly gentleman with gray hair that did this to me. I am proud to say that I haven’t set foot back in Smith’s since this happened and neither has my mother, grandmother, brother, two sisters, aunts or husband. My cousin has even moved his supply order to the Scott Blvd. You can’t just treat your customers that way. If you want your store to close at 7pm exactly then make sure your sorry behind is at the door to lock them and change the «Open» sign to «Closed». Don’t make a customer feel bad that walks in at closing time on a cane much less.

over priced. great selection of nuts, bolts & washers tho. friendly staff. yet some of them seem paranoid i might steal something. weird.

Decent hardware store or Cunningham’s Hardware set from «Happy Days»? Hard to tell the difference.
Good ACE selection and prices. The employees are almost too helpful — sometimes i just want to look for the fixture I need in peace.
It’s big and convenient, but I head to Intown Hardware for stylish service or Home Depot for cheap supplies.
* * * * but minus one * for the long conversation when I got trapped by PawPaw working in the plumbing department.

Biggest Ace Hardware I’ve ever been in that’s for sure! It was also the cleanest. I’m guessing that’s because they have space to put stuff instead of cramming it all in. :)
The guys walking the floor were very nice and knowledgeable. The cashier, however, was too busy talking to the other cashier leaning against the wall to even look at me, let alone say hello. I hate that.
The cashier and the prices are why I only gave 2 stars. I’m a fan of the smaller/​local hardware stores, but I’ve never been in one quite this expensive. I think they get away with it because there isn’t any competition close by. (At least not that I’ve seen yet…)
I still prefer the store I used to frequent in Smyrna, even tho they are not an Ace anymore. They had great sales, little gadgets, etc., and I rarely noticed a mark-​up. I saw a 2pk of ice trays for almost $ 4 here. ick.

Okay, so this location is kinda old, and the fixtures aren’t sparkling and shiny; my winning streak with metro Atlanta Ace Hardware stores continues. As usual, I have one or two things in mind when I head to a hardware store, but end up spending hours exploring, and my trip here was no different.
Of course I patronize the big guys (Home Depot and Lowes), and sure they are cheaper, but where Ace always wins me over is in customer service. Everyone is friendly without hovering or being obnoxious, and they know their stuff. I spent a good part of my visit experiencing this personally, and quietly observing other customer interactions. I witnessed an employee turn a really grizzly dude into a teddy bear.
Here, they realize that you can go elsewhere, so they go the extra mile to make you want to stay and come back. If they don’t have what you want/​need (unlikely); they’ll gladly get it for you.
P. S. The guy that helps load stuff in the lawn and garden area is hot.

This is definitely not as nice as most of the other ACE stores. Smaller store with few choices, but the employees are friendly and it is still the place with «The helpful hardware man» This store does have a nice selection of garden items: vegetable and herb seedlings, soil amendments, etc.