VOA标准英语2012--Family Hardware Store Holds Out Against Bigger Competition

 

Family Hardware¹ Store Holds Out Against Bigger Competition

Welcome to Browns Hardware in Falls Church, Virginia, where you can find a wide variety of hardware and other items. Browns brings back memories for customer Dennis Kraft. "The thing that reminds me of the hardware stores when I was in as a kid is that the shelves are stacked² to the ceiling,” he said.

Hugh Brown has owned the store for more than 50 years.

??Everyone calls him Mr. Brown, even John Taylor, the store manager for 15 years. “He's a great guy to work for. It's almost like working with your dad,” Taylor stated.

At 83, Brown is the third generation to run this family business. It was founded by his grandfather in the late 1800s, then handed down to Mr. Brown's father. 

The current store, built in the 1950s, has kept these old gumball machines. And Brown still uses his grandfather's safe. 

He thinks the store has been successful because the customers come first. “We try to take care of them when they come in. Try to have the merchandise³ that they want,” explained Brown.

Bobbi Beck has been coming in for 30 years to buy items for her jewelry⁴ business called “Hard Wear.” “The people who work here are like family to me,” she said.

Taylor says customers keep coming back because they trust Browns. “They know we won't sell them something that they don't need. Some people will come in and talk to us for 20 and 30 minutes after a sale if we're not busy," he said. "We have a good time.”

Despite its success, this neighborhood landmark⁵ could disappear. Competition from large, national home improvement⁶ warehouses⁷, known as big box stores, is driving many small hardware stores out of business. Browns' customers say they don't want that to happen here.

Many big box stores also don't provide services like fixing screens. And instead of having to buy a box of nails at the big box stores, Brown sells individual nails that are weighed on a scale made in 1912. “They just want a few, and they love to come back here, and pick out what they want,” he added.

The store also carries soap that Brown remembers from his youth. “There's no perfume⁸ in it or anything. It's just a heavy laundry soap,” he explained.

Taylor says some people come in just to look around, and find unusual items like this owl⁹ that scares birds out of gardens.

With no family of his own, Brown plans to pass the store on to Taylor. When that happens, a new family tradition may begin. “My son works¹⁰ here. He's been working here since he was in high school,” said Taylor.

This wear and tear shows just how many customers have passed through Browns' doors over the past half century. John Taylor hopes, despite the new competition, they will continue to come.

1 hardware   

n.重型武器；五金器具；硬件

参考例句：

• He bought a pot and other hardware at the store. 他从商店买了一个壶和其他金属制品。
• That family has carried on a hardware business for five generations.那家已经经营五金生意五代了。

2 stacked   

v.堆积( stack的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• a table stacked with glasses 摆满了玻璃杯的桌子
• I had stacked my shirts and underclothes in two empty drawers. 我把衬衫和内衣塞进两个抽屉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 merchandise   

n.商品，货物；v.经营，推销，销售，经商

参考例句：

• There's no use in manufacturing an item unless you can merchandise it.除非能够销售得出，否则生产产品就没有价值。
• Please don't handle the merchandise.请不要摸这些商品。

4 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

5 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

6 improvement   

n.改进，增进；改进之处，改善的地方

参考例句：

• The doctor noticed a gradual improvement in his patient.医生注意到病人在逐渐恢复健康。
• I can detect signs of improvement in your thinking.我可以察觉出你思考问题方面的进步。

7 warehouses   

仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。

8 perfume   

n.香水(料，气)；vt.使充满芳香；洒香水

参考例句：

• The air was heavy with the perfume of the flower.空气中充满了花香。
• Those roses perfume the whole garden.那些玫瑰花使满园飘香。

9 owl   

n.猫头鹰，枭

参考例句：

• Her new glasses make her look like an owl.她的新眼镜让她看上去像只猫头鹰。
• I'm a night owl and seldom go to bed until after midnight.我睡得很晚，经常半夜后才睡觉。

10 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。