My favorite old-fashioned hardware store just burned to the ground

[dcmom2b3]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/fragers-hardware-store-in-capitol-hill/2013/06/05/fee49424-ce33-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html

So sad. 90 years of history on Capitol Hill lost in a 4-alarm blaze that had engines rushing from all parts of the city. This was the place where you could find anything . . . including a boyfriend. Where the staff would entertain the Bunny while I picked out paint colors or a Christmas tree or geraniums or a socket wrench. I'm sad for my friends and neighbors who worked there --losing jobs just now.

Thankfully there were no reported injuries.

[ellies mom]

Oh no. What a shame. I'm glad no one was hurt though.

[larig]

How awful! PTs for the store owners, employees, and those who relied on it. So sad to lose such an establishment.

[citymama]

RIP Fragers. :( The end of an era.

It's been all over my FB feed thanks to my Capitol Hill friends.

[TwinFoxes]

Oh no! I hadn't heard. That's really a loss.

[pb&j]

Oh, how sad. I hope they do rebuild and reopen.

[trentsmom]

I just saw that this morning. How sad. Someone in the article said they would rebuild. I hope they do. It sounds like it was more than just a hardware store, and I bet it was a really cool place to explore. Didn't the Post do an article about the store within the past few years?

[vejemom]

Aw, that sucks! It's a looooong haul for you, but come to Nichols in Purcellville if you need an old hardware store fix! I was actually afraid that was the store you were talking about when I saw the thread title. I always get waited on by the guy who's been working there since the 1950s. It takes him about 5 minutes to walk you to the item you need, but he knows his stuff :)

[wendmatt]

I was on the phone to BIL yesterday and he was telling me about seeing smoke coming out and fire trucks arriving, he lives a few blocks down and was really upset. How sad.

[StantonHyde]

Oh that is too bad. Nothing beats a good hardware store. (ok the Farm/Feed store maybe because of the baby chicks ;-) )

[AnnieW625]

So sad. I grew up in a city with a very middle America feel amd there was a hardware store or two like that. Nothing brings the community together like a good hardware store. Glad to see they are going to be rebuilding:).

[kali]

How tragic, Frager's is truly a local institution. We bought our Halloween pumpkins there last year! They will rebuild for sure. Eastern Market rose from the ashes of a catastrophic fire and it's better than ever now!