longtime hardware store owner joe fronaczak can relate. "we did work 72 hours a week. we were open mondays and thursdays 'til 9, during the week 'til 8, saturday 'til 7 and sunday 'til 1. management meant you were here all the time." his shop, also on chicago's south side, closed up this past summer after 60 years as a family-run business. "my hope was that my son would take over the store, but there's not enough future for it. you just can't make it anymore." the unique charm of independent hardware stores- "these shelves were all made out of scrap wood" -is quickly disappearing from the american landscape. 854 have shut down in the past 5 years according to census data, leaving a little over 12,000 across the country. competition from fully stocked national chains has proven too much for some. 'that's part of the problem with a small hardware store. you just have to carry so much inventory, and sometimes it might sit on the shelf for 5 years. we're just lucky it doesn't spoil.' support from a strong customer base did provide a good living for davila's family. > > how