At the end of 2003, Chicago lost all its toy stores downtown. Now there are no hardware stores downtown. I just found out that the Ace Hardware at 26 North Wabash is now a eye glass store. In 2000-2004 there were no office supply stores in the loop. But now both a Stapes and an Office Max Express opened up. Maybe there’s hope for the toy and hardware industry in Chicago’s loop.
Hardware store vacancy in downtown Chicago
Happening right now on Spudart: Press a leaf in an envelope with the date and story written on it until 2026-10-31
That stupid ACE Hardware moved to Adams and Wacker … and they aren’t open on the weekends. There’s an ACE at State and Polk and they are open 7 days a week Remember the Toyota dealership across the street from me? It turned into a Cadillac dealership. Now it’s empty and is turning into a Staples … at least that’s the rumor. I wonder if it will be open on weekends?
oh Adams and Wacker. nice. THANKS! The void has been filled.
i love the suburbs for just the very nature of this subject.
What a stupid comment. Where in the sprawlburbs can you WALK to your hardware store? If you’re considering *driving* to a store, then downtown Chicago is packed with hardware stores almost 24/7. The bummer is that there aren’t more in *walking* distance to the Loop (amazingly enough, there are a half dozen within a mile – so who are we to complain? Try that in Barrington: walk a mile from your gated community and see how many cozy, local hardware stores *you* bump into! :0
I have 20 years of experiance in the hardware industry. I have management & sales skills, customer relation, estermating off plans & many more skills. If you require a C V , I can Email you one.