Baldwin-Taylor Ace Hardware and Rock Shop

I can’t tell you how many countless hours I’ve spent perusing the rocks/​minerals/​odds and ends at this place. It’s certainly seen better days as the rock shop section is pretty much never staffed and most of the stuff in there looks like it has been sitting on the shelf since I was a kid. The hardware section is what you’d expect in a smaller store, but I still find myself here every few months for odd bits I know I’ll never find at Home Depot or Lowes.

I called this afternoon to ask if they had 4 specific rock types available for my 5^th grade science lesson on rocks and weathering. I was told he didn’t know and I would have to come in and see for myself. So I drove out from New Orleans to arrive a 4:30 and do just that. As I got up to the door I couldn’t miss the two signs telling me 5:30 was closing time, so I had just 1 hour (I thought) to complete my search and purchase of rocks, of which I needed a substantial supply, and the list of other hardware items for my classroom and home, even a few gifts for friends. I wish the other Unilocal reviews would have warned me that crotchety folks who work there not only won’t answer your questions over the phone, but they close whenever they feel like it. As soon as I came in they told me to hurry and started shutting off all the lights. Suddenly the man became an expert on their stock, (telling me that the rock types I had asked for on the phone wouldn’t be there) and that I’d have to buy premade kits that weren’t what I needed.
While I’ll admit that the store looked intriguing in my 3 minutes inside, I will save myself the bother of going out there again. He didn’t seem one bit concerned that I had driven out there a considerable distance, that he didn’t provide me adequate customs service on the phone, or that they were not following their posted hours of operation. Well, buddy, my school’s science needs will be fulfilled elsewhere. You just lost a pretty profitable business relationship as I develop my school’s science curriculum over the next few years. For better or worse, the internet and big box stores have reliable hours and friendlier customer service. I’ll be taking my business where it is appreciated.

They didn’t have the part I was looking for (to give them credit, I haven’t been able to find it ANYWHERE), but the employees are super friendly!
They were knowledgable of what I needed and did try to direct me to a local place that could possibly help.
I did purchase some tools and they were reasonably priced.
The place has a cramped/​tight space feel to it, but that’s cuz it’s packed full of hardware and hobby treasures.
I love friendly, small town stores that have that family feel! I know if I lived closer I’d be here more often.

Local. That says enough. Old time small town people, hospitality, feel. They have propane and carry portable tanks of all sizes (my place of choice to refill my tank). Did I say local, they carry local stuff for local cooking. And even have quality porch swings… including some cyprus ones. If you have a chance support place and other local corner hardware stores.

A rare example of an old fashioned country hardware store, down to a counter of guns for sale, plus a section for the rock polishing and jewelry casting hobbies. Very reasonable prices on doing transfers for gun sales from out of state. Staff was friendly & knowledgeable.

Upon walking in, you kind of get the «flea market» vibe (small space w/​lots of random stuff), but I suppose that’s how an old-​timey local neighborhood hardware store is supposed to be.
Silly me, I grew up in the Lowes/​Home Depot era.
Anyway, Baldwin-​Taylor has a huge selection of stuff, ranging from nuts & bolts, power tools, etc to strange local things like crawfish serving platters.
I came here on a mission — to find a Mardi Gras Ladder, on the advice of Jen L. Sure enough, they had it, and it was reasonably priced. My kid likes it, so all is well.

I love this place… many happy memories buying everything I needed for my rock hunts. Our geology professors always suggested it for the equipment we needed out in the field. Still have all my rocks and drag them out for all the kids to see.

This place has a very large and diverse selection of stuff — it’s a welcome change from the big box stores, and you can tell what hobbies the owners are into based on the overstocking of various unusual items. The biggest problem I have is how the shopkeepers basically accost you when you walk in the door and treat you like you’re a shoplifter. Other times when I’ve walked in, I felt like I was in some kind of private club — the whole place generally has an unwelcoming, unfriendly vibe (and I know what you’re thinking… no I’m white). I went in yesterday looking for a specific brand of cleaner, I knew exactly where the cleaners were so while I’m scanning the shelves he comes upon me and asks if he can help me. I tell him what I’m looking for. He doesn’t appear to know what they carry so he stands next to me looking for it, as if I need someone else in my space to find this. After about 2 – 3 awkward minutes he says, «We don’t carry it.» and then stands there, waiting, apparently for me to leave the store. I felt like I was an employee at a tech firm suddenly being fired. Security has come down to my desk, giving me 10 minutes notice to grab my things and they’ll be escorting me to the door. You people need to back off. I see the guns and the goofy signs everywhere. I’m not going to stuff a socket set in my pants when you’re not looking. STOP BREATHING DOWN MY THROAT! That’s not good service. It’s being creepy.

This another one of those places that I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed. I’ve been going to this hardware store since I was a child.
It covers all the basic hardware stuff PLUS it has crawfish boiling setups, porch swings, crab nets, and a ton of pretty, pretty rocks.
The rocks are why you may not want to bring a child with you. I always begged for these pretty shinies back in the day. And the answer was always «but what are you going to do with it?» Clearly I was going to name it my precious and love it for all of my days… except no one ever bought the shiny rocks for me… and they still tempt me to this day.
Anyway, it’s a great hardware store.