Back in the day, one local hardware store sold black powder, but the owner was busted for storing the excess in the garage of a rental house he owned.
Another one dated back to the turn of the last century and it had that particular and wonderful smell, and the creaking and well-worn hardwood floor was an added bonus.
Last week, I was in Home Depot looking for a tap, couldn't find them, three employees looked at me as if I had three heads when I inquired of them, finally a guy showed up and even walked me to the display. Of course, they didn't have the size I was looking for.