Home Depot confirms Yardbirds deal(Family run supply house swallowed)

Contra Costa Times ^ | 12/1/05 | Blanca Torres

[RGSpincich]

Home Depot confirmed Wednesday that it bought Petaluma-based Yardbirds, a chain of 10 home improvement stores in the East and North Bay areas.

Atlanta-based Home Depot said the stores will continue operating under the Yardbirds name until they are converted into Home Depot stores. Specific dates or financial details were not disclosed in the company's statement.

Home Depot, a national chain of more than 1,900 stores, said it will retain Yardbirds employees. Workers were informed of the changes during two-hour-long meetings held at each store Wednesday evening.

Yardbirds was founded in 1975 by John Headley and generated about $185 million in annual sales. Headley said in a statement that he looks forward to working with Home Depot to integrate the two chains.

[dennisw]

Yardbirds... I like that name. I wouldn't mind doing my home improvement shopping at a Yardbirds...

Original UK slang meant jailbird. As in out in the prison yard.

[RGSpincich]

I remember when the San Rafael store was the highest grossing store in the chain. It's about the most chopped up and inefficient floor plan there is is in the chain now. Maybe that's why I enjoy going there periodically, for the character. Yardbirds was able to fight off PayNPac, Home Base, Home Club and Handyman. I guess they just got tired.

[commonasdirt]

Last week I headed out to get something to use against pocket gophers in my yard. i drove past the local Home Depot and went to True Value instead. As I told the guy there. "I almost went to home Depot until I realized that none of the pimply faced teenage louts working there would be able to give me any advice on the problem."

[Wally_Kalbacken]

About 25 years ago I spent most of one fall helping my uncle remodel an old shack he bought in Jenner. We used to go to a place called Grossman's (IIRC) in Santa Rosa - near the 101. It had the motto "If we don't have it - you don't need it!" Back in the day - that seemed like an impressive supplier, but I suppose it was steamrollered by Home Depot/Lowe's/etc. a long time ago. Anyone know if they still exist?

[RGSpincich]

Grossmans is gone in my neck of the woods too. They were pretty good.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Walmart, McDonald's, Home Depot... Walmart, McDonald's, Home Depot... Walmart, McDonald's, Home Depot... Walmart, McDonald's, Home Depot...

[HHFi]

Sad to hear. Back in the early '90s, I was production director at a radio station in Dallas, and I ended up writing and voicing all the commercials for the local Yardbirds stores. They were nice people, and I'll always have a soft spot for them. Their logo was a cartoon crow, so I created a character voice for him and did a series of funny spots from the bird's point of view, as he turned to Yardbirds to help him cope with various crises, like his in-laws coming to visit, etc. I always appreciated clients with a sense of humor who'd let you be creative with their spots, and the ads worked so well for them, they gave me a gift bag of free flashlights and tools.

Probably wouldn't be so much fun dealing with Home Depot Corp.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Anyone know if they still exist?

Grossman's went under quite a few years ago. They had a store in Novato, too, but I think it closed back around 1990.

[Revolting cat!]

No, no, no, here's the real deal!

[RGSpincich]

I had no idea there was a Yardbirds chain in Texas. Did they use this logo, too?

[HHFi]

No, their logo was a cocky cartoon crow, I think with a hard hat and a cigar, leaning on the word "Yardbirds." He looked kind of like the birds in "Heckyl & Jeckyl."

[RGSpincich]

OSH has something going with Sears. Maybe that will help protect them.

[djreece]

I'm disappointed to learn this.

[RGSpincich]

"I almost went to home Depot until I realized that none of the pimply faced teenage louts working there would be able to give me any advice on the problem."

As it stands now we have 2 HD's in a 5 mile radius. One urbanized HD where the cashiers and aisle guys are rude and disrespectful. The other one a suburban meca for English learner employees. Lucky for me I usually don't need advice just directions to an item. I feel sorry for the homeowners who shop at HD and need advice on small projects. Those Ace and True Value franchises are hard to find but there are some here.

[RGSpincich]

[commonasdirt]

Luckily there are two of them within 4 blocks of each other in my area

[datsundriver]

Vintage Yard Birds memorabilia This figurine appears to be plaster, the "feathers" are rabbit fur. The Concord store was a fine place when I was a child.