I miss Virginia Hardware. I love neighborhood hardware stores, like the Candey Hardware on 18th Street downtown. They’re a symbol that we haven’t embraced the Home Depots of the world, and that we can still get just what we need in a small storefront. Sadly, Virginia Hardware, and later, Lazy Sundae, weren’t allowed to renew their leases, and they were booted out of Clarendon. Fortunately, when Virginia Hardware became Ri Ra, they at least left the marquee, so someone will see that where they are now was once a neighborhood hardware store and Locksmith 365 and take notice of what once was. Where now stands La Tasca and the Cheesecake Factory was once the antiques market on the weekend, and a surface parking lot. Where now stand condos used to be smalltown business. While all may not remain the same, remembering what was once is important. This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
I live and work in the District of Columbia. I write at We Love DC, a blog I helped start, I work at Technolutionary, a company I helped start, and I’m happy doing both. I enjoy watching baseball, cooking, and gardening. I grow a mean pepper, keep a clean scorebook, and wash the dishes when I’m done. Read Why I Love DC.
