Lowes employees are nice folks but they know absolutely nothing about anything.
Our old hardware store was a font (fount actually) of wisdom re: anything to do with hardware.
I think a local store might compete quite well with Lowes, but it has to be very carefully managed to differentiate itself and to make sure that it hires folks who really have the knowledge to do so and are willing to take the time to pass on that knowledge.
We have an old hardware/general store in my town. It has creaky, old wooden floors. Some of the stock must have been there since the 40’s. Owned by one family. You can bring in a screw and tell them you need one just like it and they reach in these old wooden drawers and produce one. They charge you 2 cents.