HJ Smith and Sons is part hardware store and part museum. It has taken me years to finally visit, but now that I have, I am sure to become a regular.
When I walked into this place I felt as if I were walking into a store from the olden days. It has a very early America feel. The store is stocked with modern hardware items and tools, but also has many unique items. I particularly appreciated the large amount of army surplus items including dummy hand grenades. I don't know why, but I love those things. They had bit the pineapple and baseball style for sale. There was also a section filled with cast iron cookware. They had everything from small Dutch ovens to giant jambalaya pots.
There is another area off to the side of the store that is somewhat of a museum. Inside it is filled with all sorts of old items that would be of interest to most guys. There was an old canoe, old diving equipment, old bottles, and even a petrified rat. It is a little difficult to describe the scope of this museum, but trust me, it is worth a visit. The only negative I saw was that the shop did not appear to be air conditioned. That made browsing difficult during my summer visit,
As an example of the different types of items available, I will tell you about the things I purchased on my visit. The first item was just run of the mill rubber boots. You never know when you will need to wade through mud or water, so I keep this pair in my truck at all times. The second items were a pair of coonskin caps for my kids as a gift. I don't think they thought they were as cool as I did, but where else can you buy a legitimate coonskin cap?
If this review hasn't convinced you, do yourself a favor and check it out anyway. I think it is one of the most unique stores I've ever visited. read more