It takes a story to make a hardware store in Southie a "Four Star Hardware Store in Southie." Thankfully, I have such a story.
I had to be at my theatre in 3 hours to perform, and I needed to build a prop for it. So I went on Yelp to see if there were any hardware stores that would've been on my way home (between Southie and Inman Square) that I could acquire PVC pipe, duct tape, insulation and other components for. Conveniently enough, there was one a half mile from my office, and they specialized in hardware for theatres.
I took off at a sprint from the front door of my office and arrived there (in the Boston Design Center on the "99% of Bostonians have never been here" part of Southie called Drydock Road. Inside the enormous BDC was Backstage Hardware & Theatre Supply. Within five seconds of entering, a matronly woman asked me what I needed and I ran down my list. She directed me to a gentleman who hastily cut PVC pipe for me, and he directed me to the insulation and various other things.
Within ten minutes, I was rung up and bid a fond farewell from the staff inside. Now I have about two and a half hours to build my prop. I best get to it. read more