By Susan Motander
Orchard Supply Hardware held a ribbon-cutting event at their newest location in Monrovia yesterday, but being a hardware store, cutting a ribbon was not for them – they cut a chain instead.
In addition to the ceremonial opening of the store (that has had a “soft opening” for the last few weeks) the company also presented a check to the Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) Program.
As Natalie Colli, who does public relations for OSH explained, “Every OSH store picks a local charity with which to partner, this store has chosen MAP as its partner.”
In his city manager’s report this week, Oliver Chi reported that a representative of the company has written the following to him: “I have stumbled across the MAP program and I think this is just so amazing and we would love to contribute!”
I love wandering through the aisle and finding new products for things I never considered. I admit I am a hardware store junkie, so getting a guided tour through the new OSH from the Manager Steve Rados and Assistant Manager Luis Castenallos was nirvana. After a two-hour-tour I felt we had only just gotten started.
As Rados explained, OSH is more than just hardware. There is a whole gardening section, more than just plants and fertilizer. There is deer repellent, squirrel-resistant bird feeders (I am not kidding), and tools I have yet to find a use for.
And the Benjamin Moore paint section is great (did you realize they have an historic paint color line?). And stains. And sealants. And primers. And more …
Then there is the light section. There are vintage appearing LED lights to work in those time-period-appropriate light fixtures. They even sell the light fixtures in a wide range of style.
And in what I think of as the widget area, there is drawer upon drawer of things, from screws to motors, to those little light bulbs one find themselves needing for their child’s science fair project.
And of course, there is the workbench area where they can not only cut keys of every type, including those for the key-less ignition systems, but also sharpen and finely hone knives. This work area can also cut glass to size as well as screening and Plexiglas.
And for the hardware store junkie, this weekend will be true heaven. There will be gift card (first 100 adult customers on Saturday) and tote bag (first 1,000 customers both Saturday and Sunday) giveaways. The grand opening weekend festivities will also include drawings for tools and even a pizza oven.
Orchard Supply Hardware is now open to Monrovia at 725 W. Huntington Drive in Monrovia.
