I too have a Ace 10 blocks up the street. I park right outside the door and they have what I need. If you don't give them buisness they will close and that will be sad. I bought gas grill there and the owner delivered it to my house while the wife and I were grocery shopping. You don't get that kind of service from Lowes. His price was within a few bucks of the hig box store too.
It was a sad day a few months ago when our local True Value store closed after the owner died...almost 40 years of serving the community. Even had number and letter drills in stock plus a huge selection of hardware.