January 6th

Wednesday, January 6 – I own an old home.  104 years old.  This means I have a plumber and electrician on speed-dial.  And visit the hardware store frequently.

So today I needed A21 light bulbs.  The old fashioned, long neck ones.  You don’t find them everywhere.  But I have a ceiling fixture that only accepts them.  Then burns them out almost monthly.

So today’s shopping stop was at Fisher’s Ace Hardware in the Hillcrest Shopping Center on East Main Street.  What is my favorite thing about there?  They always seem to have a lot of people working there.  People who actually know where things are (yes, Lowes and Home Depot – I’m talking to you!).

All you Wilson’s Hardware Store lovers out there – don’t fret!  I love Wilson’s too!  And will be there any day now, I’m sure.  I was just at one of my real estate listings on Sycamore, so was right around the corner from Ace.  I was short on time, so wanted to zip in and out quickly.  And the Hillcrest parking lot allows for that.  Which really hit home.  I chose a hardware store based on its parking.  I’m sure I’m not alone.

Lansdale Shopping Score:  1

Next stop – home – to pick up Ken.  And off we go to grab a late breakfast.  Now this is one of my go-to places in Lansdale.  The West Main Diner.  Great diner food.  Fantastic staff.  We got Lori – my favorite waitress.  I still love her, even though she pointed out that the bagel I ordered to go along with my omelet was equal to seven slices of bread.  She read that somewhere.  I am not even going to fact check that, just in case it’s true.  Damn you, Lori – I will think of this every time I eat a bagel!  But I will not give up bagels.  Will.  Not.  And will definitely not give up Lori.  Ask for her next time you stop in!

Lansdale Shopping Score:  2

My next stop wasn’t my stop at all.  I sent Ken out to drop off donations to the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Montgomeryville.  We annually-ish clean out closets of unwanted junk valuable items and donate them to charity.  We used to have the Impact Thrift Store on Main Street, but they moved to Montgomeryville.  I have mixed feelings about that.  While I do miss the ease of them being in town, I’m not sure that a thrift store on our main shopping street is going to be the economic engine to revitalize our town. 

One thing I know I hate is those rusty metal Dumpster-like donation bins lurking in various borough parking lots.  Hate them.  What an eyesore.  Plus, many of the “charities” that run them are not good charities.  Did you know most of the clothing donated to those bins goes to material recyclers in Central America?  With just a sliver of any profits going to charity.  Bypass the bins!  Or better yet, legislate them out of our parking lots (are you listening, Borough Council?).

My final outlay of cash was for dinner.  You’re going to see a trend here – we went outside of the borough to a restaurant that has a liquor license.  Margarita’s in Kulpsville.  I had a late appointment at work, and Margarita’s is two doors down.  Ken met me there, and we had a good meal. 

Why isn’t this type of restaurant in Lansdale?  Well, they want a lot of square feet.  And ceilings that are 18 foot or more.  And parking.  And our older building stock does not have that.  But the old Vidalia/Super Food Town in the Pavillion does!  That would make a great space for a theme restaurant!  And we should work on getting one in there.

So the recap:

TWO oportuities to shop in Lansdale met.

ONE need not fulfilled by a Lansdale establishment.

ONE need met outside the borough when I could have stayed here – if I was willing to go to a BYOB.

Let’s see what today brings!