It's not the biggest Home Hardware in the world... but it's exactly where it needs to be. I knew it was going to be a fun adventure writing about this place when my attempts to locate it on Yelp's online map system had a marker clear out in Thunder Bay. Temagami, despite a varied selection of small mom-and-pop stores, is about as far removed from the action as it gets, which is why having a chain store here is a great resource. My friends and I ended up stopping here during our trip to the nearby Finlayson Point Park after we discovered that we were lacking several crucial kitchen implements and supplies. The first thing we noticed is that this place is laid back. REALLY laid back. This is the kind of place that functions on a completely-different schedule and pace than the rest of the province. If it's not the giant plaque from the Lions Club outside that catches your eye, all you need to do is stand around inside for a few minutes and watch the customers have long, laborious conversations with the cashier(s) about an upcoming potluck event, the weather in Temagami or anything in-between. You want to talk about that "small-town feel"? This place has it in spades. It's also a surprisingly-stocked branch for a such a small town. Hell, there are Home Hardware locations I've visited here in Mississauga that don't have nearly the selection or service as the Temagami branch did, so their attention to the "customer experience" (such as it is) was much appreciated. I don't usually get excited over hardware stores, but walking in here was such a strange experience that it immediately stuck among all the other places we visited on this trip. I'm glad to have visited, and impressed that it's a bright spot in the town. Worth a look if you're in the area and need something quick. read more

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