Today I had to go to Lowe's because I needed an air-condition filter for my home system, and what I came out with was not only the product I came in for, but with the realization that Lowe's has something rare to find these days: friendly, kind, knowledgeable, and efficient associates eager to go the extra mile to help you. And that to me is not only priceless, but deserves my loyalty.
After having been selected as number 4 of Yelp's Top 50 most prolific Elites of 2025, a year when I was also awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Photographer of the Year Award at their Yelpies 2025 Award Ceremony, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, and where last year I was awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year Award, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And this Lowe's in Roanoke, Virginia is a perfect example.
Lowe's has grown from a single small-town general store in 1921 into the world's second largest home improvement retailer. In 1921 Lucius Smith Lowe founded "North Wilkesboro Hardware" in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. It sold a diverse array of everyday items. After his passing away, in the early 1940's his son James took ownership, eventually bringing in his brother-in-law, H. Carl Buchan, as a partner. Then around 1946 Carl Buchan refocused the company on a new strategy eliminating wholesalers and buying directly from manufacturers to offer lower prices. In 1952 he becomes the sole owner. After his passing away in 1961 the company went public as Lowe's Companies, Inc., allowing it to fund regional expansion across the Southeast US. In the late 1970's Lowe's shifted its focus to retail "do-it-yourself" consumers under CEO Robert Strickland. And marketing was aimed at individual households. In the 1990's the company began transitioning to the massive warehouse-style store format that dominates its brand today. Today under CEO Marvin Ellison, who joined in 2018, the company has focused on modernizing its digital presence and optimizing its supply chain to better compete in the massive home improvement market.
When I entered the store I found it clean, well stocked and well organized. But I had no idea where to go to find what I came to look for. So I turned to the right and started walking with the hope of finding an associate who could help me. It didn't take long for me to run into Cathy whom I immediately noticed who she was by her nametag and the way she was dressed. I asked if she could help me find what I was looking for and instead of telling me "Go to aile such and such," she actually went with me and helped me find the size I needed and the quality one I wanted. When I pointed out that these were on Sale for Buy 3 and get another one Free, she made sure to walk with me to the cashier associate also named Kathy but with a K, to let her know about the sale so she would make sure to give it to me. While I was there she asked me if I was a Lowe's Rewards Member and when I gave her my phone number we found out I wasn't so I asked her if she could sign me up. And she was happy to do so. I thanked her and asked if she had a bag to put in the filters. She went somewhere and found one of the size I needed and packed my 4 filters. Later at home I found out that these filters had a filtrete app that told you when it was time to change them and how was the quality of the air by inputting your location.
In conclusion I highly recommend this Lowe's for all the reasons you already know and most of all for its exceptional customer service which to me is priceless. read more