Langham Creek Ace Hardware Stocks Non-traditional Inventory

Watching customers walk into the Langham Creek Ace Hardware on FM 529 in Cypress, Texas, for the first time never gets old for store owners Chuck and Arlene O’Malley, writes Shawn Arrajj for Community Impact Newspaper.

Far from a typical hardware store, the shop’s extensive gift market, large seasonal displays and knowledgeable staff tend to catch people by surprise, Chuck said.

“People who have never been in the store before always have that reaction,” he said. “We love to see that because it means we’ve probably got a new customer who will come back again.”

Chuck said he believes Langham Creek Ace, a locally owned franchise of the Illinois-based Ace Hardware Corporation, stands out from other hardware stores for a number of reasons. He said employees at big-box retailers, such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, often direct customers to his store to have their questions answered.

“They’re our best source of referrals,” Chuck said. Supporting the local community is a big part of the business’s mission, Arlene said. In addition to cookware, tools and lawn care items, the store’s features products from more than 100 different vendors, including many local to the Houston and Cy-Fair areas.

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