Mays Hardware Closing
There’s sad news in today’s FNP that Mays Hardware is closing it’s doors after 50 years in business.
After 50 years, the name Mays Hardware will no longer be a part of the Frederick business landscape.
Karl Zimmerman, who bought the business a decade ago, said a combination of competition from the big box stores and the economy is forcing him to liquidate everything.
The store was well known for carrying not only the typical hardware, lawn care and other products, but unusual pieces of hardware that might be needed for an historic home or specific repair job.
Earlier this morning about a dozen people were waiting outside the store for it to open at 10 a.m. to see what bargains they could get on merchandise.
The business opened in 1958 in the Frederick Shopping Center.
Mays currently has 10 employees.
Zimmerman said he hasn’t set a specific date for closing the doors. “Just keep selling until it is all gone to the walls,” he said.
We used to go to Mays all the time when we lived on the north side of town and it was located in the 7th Street Shopping plaza years ago. We haven’t been as often since it moved over to Rosemont Ave. and we moved to the south side. It’s a great old-fashioned hardware store though and this news makes me sad. I wish we could have gone more often.
Oh, I’m crushed! I could always count on the grandpas at Mays’ to tell me what I needed to complete a job. When I bought my canning supplies, they’d tell me I had to bring a sample of anything I made (and, of course, I did!). I’m between Frederick and Middletown, so I still have Ingalls, but Mays was my favorite. Sigh. I’m sad now.
I know what you mean. I’ve had so many keys made there and I could always count on the people working there to give me advice on projects I was doing. It’s the sad end of an era.
It is really sad to see this place go. Myabe if they could have stayed at the Frederick shopping Center, things would have been better. nonetheless it is still sad to see them go.
Bummer, I wish Zim the best of luck. The folks that work there are always very helpful.
I am curious where it was in the Frederick Shopping Center (or maybe a better way to put it is what is currently in the location that Mays used to be?)
I’m not positive because I’m not all that familiar with the new incarnation of the plaza, but I think it was about where Rent-a-Center/Papa John’s is.
http://frederickshoppingcenter.com/Images/Layout-LG.jpg
I remember it used to have a bunch of model kits in the front window.
Yup, that’s where it was. Across the aisle from the F&M bank.
I remember going into the 7th Street location on Saturdays with my dad. It was always fun to hang out in the model kits section up front while he was getting what he needed. The folks at the new location were so nice – even though we live downtown and it would be easier to go to Home Depot, we liked going there to get keys made, buy moving boxes and just to look around at all the gizmos. They had everything! I’m sad to see them go.
I have gone to Mays ever since moving here from Ohio 25 years ago. I would rather drive 50 miles to go to a place like Mays than walk 50 feet to the bigbox that is running them out.
I cant wait,(actually I can wait) until the next project I do needs some old vintage type of hardware. Or a unusual piece of creative putting together of unrelated items to make it work.
I will drive the “no it alls” at the BOX insane trying to get them to work it out like the guys at Mays could so easily.
Jeff, Liz and Jim.
Mays was in the space where Randstant is now.
It was next to the old Ames store which is now Ashley Furniture.
on the layout Liz linked to it is space 25.
And can anyone tell me where a husband can send his wife on a Saturday afternoon while he has half a kitchen torn apart, along with most of the rest of the house, and have her tell the salesman my husband is working on…bla woogiehickie bla bla…and needs a…bla bla watchamacallit Bla..
AND SHE COMES HOME WITH THE EXACT PARTS YOU WANTED!
That my dear folks was May’s Hardware in Frederick.
This makes me SO SAD! Since I do unusual work, I was always in Mays asking weird questions. Those guys would help me solve any problem that I had, even if it was something different like building an armature. I’ve had all my keys made there for years!
Mays offered Cadillac service at a time when people demand Coca-Cola prices. Mays couldn’t compete with Lowe’s big-box business model, and was squeezed out of existence.
Matthew, your comment about Mays seemed like a fitting description of what drives many American consumers today, who seem to be seeking the Holy Grail of “Cadillac service…at Coca-Cola prices.” (Or maybe we should say “….. Ford Escort prices.”).
Matthew described May’s just right as being Cadillac Service. “No It All” are the men at that store. No matter who you were you received good service. It seems the “GOBs” of Maryland would want to keep such an establishment around since it is pleasing to us all. The “Elite” need to take notice of the people and types of businesses they are helping to move out.”The Rich get richer and “Cadillacs” don’t matter. Of the People(Not)By the People(Not)and For the Poeple(Not).This is really Oh SO Sad for a lot of us. Thank you, All of the MAY’S HARDWARE CREW. We would like to Hope that someday there may be a book from A to Z written, patented, and published by the “MAY’S HARDWARE CREW”.
I recall the old may’s store at the 7th Street Shopping Center. Back then I would go there for model train supplies, glues and paints. Yep, they even had a neat hobby dept full of lots of train sets, and model kits! They later moved to that office bldg next to Safeway at the College Park Plaza. Then they went back to a smaller location when they sub-divided the Ames store. I’m not sure the final Rosemont Ave spot was the greatest for business tho’. I was also disappointed when they discontinued the hobby section. It is a shame its gone!!!!