2012 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Various owners from Grace, Wilkes, to fumbling Sears, to big competitor Lowe's.
And the stores drastically changed from carrying most professional supplies with expert staff to fancy new stores for homeowners and amateurs staffed by nice retired people.
For years they "guaranteed" their OSH green plastic trash cans, cylindrical with handles and a lid; the handles and lids aged and cracked, so just take it back for a new one!
There use to be a real garden expert at the Branham street store in SJ, but that store had way too many unstopped walkout thieves a clerk told me ,so store closed and this great guy retired. Oh and nearby Summerwinds caught fire, rebuilt and Closed! in this very rich WG-LG neighborhood. So there are Home Depots without experts.
Dad and I would go weekly to buy exactly the right nail or screw or part. Most Engineers didn't take practical Industrial Arts classes at sjsc so many know old theory but not how a pro would fix a car or house wiring problem.
A very sad long goodbye.
