Cape True Value Hosts First "Ladies Night"

"I'll try an hors d'oeuvre – oh, and I need a box of nails, too."

A hardware store is an unusual place for a cocktail party, but the setting didn't seem to be an issue Sunday [Nov. 14] when Cape True Value stayed open after hours to hold its first "Ladies Night."

Some 150 attendees turned out for wine tastings and finger foods from 6 to 8 p.m. amid the displays of power tools and lawn and garden supplies. Many said they enjoyed the opportunity for a night out with the girls, and others got a jump on Christmas shopping while hubby stayed home with the kids.

For the owners, it was a chance to hammer home the message that the store in the Cape St. Claire Shopping Center is not just for guys. They also hoped to cement their reputation as the local's choice for value and convenience in the hardware department.

"We were nervous about it, we weren't sure what to expect," said Melissa Wade of Easton, who owns the store along with her stepdaughter Liz Lewandowski, a Cape resident. But by 6:30 p.m., the parking lot was packed and Broadneck Grill had already come back to replenish the station where staffers were dishing out samples of hazelnut chicken, amaretto and almond shrimp, and butterscotch cookies.  

Melissa was busy greeting customers at the front entrance and handing out pink goodie bags to those heading to their cars. "What we're trying to do is make women feel comfortable coming into the hardware store," she said.

Besides a wine sampling station staffed by Bella's Liquors and the food tastings, there were drawings for wine bottles and gift cards and demonstrations throughout the night on such topics as replacing electric receptacles, Power Drills 101, and basic toilet repair.

"It's just a way to take the fear out of doing it yourself," explained Melissa. "We're female owners, and we're very female friendly. We're even dog friendly," she added, as a customer walked by with her pooch on a leash. (They keep dog treats in the back of the store for their regular canine customers.)

Located at the opposite end of the shopping center from Grauls, the local addition to the True Value chain opened in December 2001. A Grand Reopening in March 2008 followed a year of renovation that doubled the store's size to 10,000 square feet, adding more space for house wares, electric and plumbing supplies, seasonal items and a full paint department featuring Benjamin Moore products.

Nancy Kennedy, of Atlantis, got a discount on the paint she bought at Ladies Night. A reading specialist at Jones Elementary, she's painting her home inside and out and had been "waiting impatiently" for the after-hours event to happen, she said. "I'm dedicated to supporting local businesses," she added.

As she queued up for a taste of Broadneck Grill's fare, Cathy Wasiuta, who lives in the Cape, said she and a friend stole away for the night to do a little shopping for themselves. "It's a neat idea," she said of the ladies-only affair. "We've seen a lot of neighbors, too."

Cape True Value is regularly open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday – Friday, Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, visit their web site at www.truevalue.com/cape, or call 410-757-0797.