Магазин «Papa's Hardware» в Шрусбери предлагает услуги и уровень сервиса, сравнимые с легендарным «Spag's»

SHREWSBURY – Many locals don’t even realize that it’s there, tucked away in a small plaza located at 276 Boston Turnpike in Shrewsbury. It’s just a short distance from where the iconic “Spag’s” was located. As it turns out, Papa’s Hardware is what many might call a “Mini-Spag’s.” It’s the same type of operation – you can find just about anything at Papa’s. If you need a certain size nut or bolt, Papa’s has it. If you need a certain type of bird seed, Papa’s has it. Papa’s started in 2011 as a much smaller business, moving into its present location in 2013. Since that time, the business has grown, taking over almost the entire plaza where it’s located. The business actually has another branch – Quality Industrial Products – which serves as its business-to-business operation. Many people wonder where the name “Papa’s” came from; after all, the owner’s name is Fred, or Freddie to some locals. Fred’s grandson Domenic picked the name, and he calls his grandfather “Papa.” The staff at Papa’s Hardware is small – when it started, it consisted of Fred Betti, his daughter Ana, and another woman that ran the operation. In 2015, E. J. O’Rourke – a young man at the time – joined the business and has been there ever since. Today, the in-store staff consists of Fred, his daughter Theresa, and E.J., with other family members working where needed. The store is quite different from almost any other hardware store, and certainly different from the large chain hardware stores. Seasonal items, such as flowers, shrubs, and vegetables are displayed outside. Lawn furniture and a variety of items are left outside overnight and when the store is closed on Sundays, a sign of how much the store trusts the local population. The staff is extremely knowledgeable regarding the thousands of items in stock – just ask for whatever you’re looking for and Papa’s will have it for you in seconds. An example: A small nut was lost after it fell off an outdoor wall lamp housing; this reporter took the nut and brought it to Papa’s. They took one look and said: “It’s over here.” – no measuring or manual needed. Quite a difference from the “big box” stores where you might have to look for 20 minutes to find an employee working on the floor. The bottom line: If you want high-quality service, and reasonable prices, visit Papa’s Hardware.