Watching customers walk into the Langham Creek Ace Hardware on FM 529 for the first time never gets old for store owners Chuck and Arlene O’Malley.

Far from a typical hardware store, the shop’s extensive gift market, large seasonal displays and knowledgeable staff tend to catch people by surprise, Chuck said.

“People who have never been in the store before always have that reaction,” he said. “We love to see that because it means we’ve probably got a new customer who will come back again.”

Chuck said he believes Langham Creek Ace, a locally owned franchise of the Illinois-based Ace Hardware Corporation, stands out from other hardware stores for a number of reasons. He said employees at big-box retailers, such as  Home Depot and Lowe’s, often direct customers to his store to have their questions answered.

“They’re our best source of referrals,” Chuck said.

Supporting the local community is a big part of the business’s mission, Arlene said. In addition to cookware, tools and lawn care items, the store’s features products from more than 100 different vendors, including many local to the Houston and Cy-Fair areas.

The business also hosts events to raise money for groups, such as Cy-Hope. An upcoming 10-year anniversary celebration Feb. 24 will benefit Texas Children’s Hospital.

After Hurricane Harvey hit the Houston area on Aug. 26, Langham Creek Ace donated supplies to local churches involved in the recovery effort.

“You react to what’s happening and you just want to do what you can to help,” Chuck said. “We live in the neighborhood, and we see what we do here as being part of the neighborhood.”

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18020 FM 529, Cypress
281-855-6801
www.langhamcreekace.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.,  Sun. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.