January 19, 2010

Home supermarket

As I mentioned when I posted a picture of the Ortigas Home Depot, the concept of one-stop home improvement centers is relatively new in Metro Manila, though they are quite common now. Ace Builders Center, an international franchise, is a daughter company of SM, that proponent of gigantic malls, and their stores can be found in all of SM's largest malls. Unlike Home Depot, Ace doesn't carry the bigger construction pieces like lumber or doors, but you'll still be able to find most of what you need for home improvement projects. I can spend many happy hours in this store, including drooling over power tools that I have yet to gather enough courage to learn how to use.

Ace Builders Center

23 comments:

Clueless in Boston said...

I agree with you that hardware stores are interesting and wonderful to wander around in, just like office supply stores.

Verna Luga said...

Glad there's a Davao branch of this hardware Hilds ... I frequent this store especially the garden section...

Lowell said...

ACE Hardware is a big name in the U.S. And it has a good reputation. But it's being eclipsed by other builder's centers such as Home Depot and Lowe's...which is too bad. The more competition the better, usually!

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis» had no idea there are Ace stores in the Philippines. «Louis» far prefers Ace over Home Depot.

Tracy said...

Now that is very interesting! I guess Ace is the place there, too!

Leif Hagen said...

ACE is the place of the helpful hardware man! Nice snap! Either you:
a. Got permission for the photo
b. You were sneaky enough for no permission
c. In Manila, store managers don't care about photos
d. You ran away quick enough afterwards
e. Both b and d

escape said...

it makes it so easy to go and shop on these DIY stores. we benefit a lot as there's just enough options.

Chuck Pefley said...

I frequent my neighborhood Ace often. I can find obscure items there that I can't locate in Home Depot. A wonderful locally run store!

Don and Krise said...

Aw, go ahead Hilda. Treat yourself to a new cordless drill/screwdriver. You'll be adding to the collection in no time. I'm not sure why these places are so addicting, but for some they are.

Olivier said...

belle photo, les lumières ressortent bien.

RJ said...

Shops like this (ACE Hardware) makes me feel that life is easy. U

Everytime I visit this blog, nakikita kong parang first world country na rin ang Pilipinas.

Ipagpatuloy!

brattcat said...

We still have our wonderful neighborhood independent hardware store, Brown and Roberts, where you can buy anything from big power tools to manual apple corers.

arabesque said...

ace isn;t my cup of tea. ^0^ i'm usually oblige to go there when there's some stuff i need, otherwise, i skip this part. ^-^

Frank said...

It's so interesting to see retailers spread out all over the world. The brands translate and become part of very community no matter what country.

Lois said...

We have Ace Hardware here too and I sometimes prefer it to the larger more overwhelming stores.

Anonymous said...

Hi Hilda! Thanks for your comments on my Philadelphia blog! I was wondering, how did you get the link to citydailyphoto on your blog? I dont have blogger, I use wordpress so it may be different. Thanks and you can email me at: scenesfromphiladelphia@yahoo.com

Small City Scenes said...

Yes we have Ace Hardware here too, although the one in Stanwood recently closed and I don't know why. They just built and moved into a very nice new building. Maybe that is why.

Thanks so much for the kind comment on my blog. MB

Unseen Rajasthan said...

We dnt have that still In India !!

Les Barr said...

Around here there are a few of those Ace Hardware stores, but the real big ones like Lowes and Home Depot seem to draw more people. I'm guilty of always being in Lowes, cause I just love that store. All kinds of "stuff" for us guy's to snoop around for. I have frequented the store so many times that I can't count them all. I'm usually there during the Summer months getting things that are needed around our Home or something that I need to keep the Home in repair.

VP said...

This seems a very good place to spend some time. Large home supermarkets are relatively new here, but they are growing and going to eclipse the more traditional hardware store.

George said...

Ace Hardware is very popular here as well. I don't have a lot of power tools, but I think I could find any that I could conceive needing.

Hilda said...

Leif:
The SM malls are very nice to photographers — you can pretty much take all the pictures that you want. Really, if you think about it, it's free PR for their malls and tenants!

Arabesque:
You still live with your family, yes? Once you have have a place of your own, Ace (and other home improvement stores) will soon be your best friends! :)

Dina said...

Ha, I like how you said that, Hilda. Same with me!