Jack's, on Packard Street just east of State Street, is a townie fixture known for the quirky messages on the sign out front. Inside, a visitor is likely to stumble over a tangle of newborn kittens or into a debate about the City's graduated municipal water rates. If there are donuts (and what contractor can go long without donuts?) they will be from Washtenaw Dairy.

740 Packard Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3376 (734) 995-0078

The store is jumbled and shelves stacked high, but the staff knows exactly where to find anything you want, or can direct you to the nearest supplier. Not as comprehensive as Lowe's or Home Depot, but the perfect place for a quick trip to pick up hand tools, light bulbs, plumbing fixtures, or other random small items and those necessary odds and ends that are not carried at the big box stores, or that you can only get from the box stores in units of 4 or more. (Do you really need 4 thing-a-ma-bobs when you only need one every 2+ years?)

Jack's shares their building with Sushi Town, and is next door to Forsythe Park.

Nearby bus stops

Bus stop AAATA 383, serving the outbound route 5, is at Packard and Arch, in front of Forsythe Park next door to Jack's.