Depot

They changed tactics. They turned the front of the store into a classroom. They started hosting workshops, showing customers how to fix a leaking toilet or lay tile themselves. The message was simple: You can do it, and we can help .

But sitting in a California coffee shop, they hadn't seen an end; they saw a gap. They changed tactics

The first few days, customers walked in, looked at the massive, warehouse-style space, and walked right out, confused. They were used to small, dusty hardware corners. "We have to teach them, Artie," Bernie said. The message was simple: You can do it, and we can help

They wanted to build a "depot"—a cavernous, warehouse-style, 60,000-square-foot behemoth that made other hardware stores look like toy shops. They wanted sawdust on the floor, skid marks, and prices so low they’d turn the industry upside down. They were used to small, dusty hardware corners