There’s this new hardware store in my town, but I’m not sure about it. It’s called Sterge and Daughters, run by this really strange manager. Apparently, he used to work for a huge department store chain that got shut down recently, so he decided to reopen his old family hardware shop. The thing is, he’s got this really strange, high-pitched voice that makes him sound a bit like one of those talking puppets that you see on television. I can’t really take the guy seriously, which makes it very difficult to shop there. All I want is to find the best timber supplies Cheltenham has to offer for my personal projects, though, so if I have to deal with the weird manager, I will.

Then there’s the store supervisor, who watches over all the other employees. She seems pretty weird too, which I guess makes sense since she is probably the manager’s daughter. Then again, they don’t look anything alike, so maybe his weirdness just influences her or something. I imagine their team meetings are one of the strangest things on the planet. Just to paint you a picture, this woman wears the brightest possible clothes and makeup I can only describe as ‘interesting’. How she came to be the store supervisor is a mystery to me.

Despite the strangeness of the staff, the newest hardware store in the Bayside area does deliver a good experience, I have to admit. The team members seem pretty knowledgeable about the hardware they sell, and they can point you to essentially any item in the store. I was surprised at the lengths they would go to, just to help me get the best items for my special project. Shockingly, they even suggested I buy a cheaper hammer that was actually of better quality than the more expensive one I was going to buy. As far as I can tell, they don’t have a better profit margin on that item or anything.

So, even though the manager and his second in command are a bit strange, I would have to recommend the place. I started this post a bit unsure, but in writing about my experience, I have become certain of it. Go take a look for yourself, if you like.