Nope. A state over, in fact; just visited Middlesex area a lot because both grandparent sets were around there as was extended family. But we lived close enough that most of the stores were the same. But yeah, almost guaranteed to be the same Frank's.

That was absolutely Home Depot's business model in the 80s into the 90s: straight "kill the competition".

When my family relocated to the shithole of Illinois in the mid 90s (don't get me started), there were a few Sears Hardwares around. Like an extension of the Sears Hardware Department with sometimes some extra stuff depending on the size.

On one long road (we'll say the Illinois version of Route 22, just shittier because Illinois) there were three such locations. Home Depot built locations literally across the street from all three of them.

Within two years all three locations had closed.

I didn't shop at Home Depot for a long time until I absolutely had to because nothing else was around except for Lowe's.

Ground Round has made a small return, 10 locations open, most of them in states along the Canadian border (not sure why that is).

I remember my brother working in Jamesway in between...I want to say his freshman and sophomore year. When they closed it turned into a Frank's (a gardening store) and he worked there too, but did too much lifting for someone too small too be lifting without any muscle and screwed himself up for the rest of his life.

Jesus. I had to go look; I didn't realize it was that bad...I only heard about dementia, not that he was suffering from aphasia and couldn't communicate anymore.

I'm not a doctor and I haven't seen how he is so I can't elaborate as I have no foundation. I'm guessing he has good days and bad days.

His body, no. His mind is currently...not the best.

"Mom, my fern died and now I can't charge my phone."

95 all the way; don't bother with anything else until you get to I-4.

Source: Lived in Orlando for seven years and made that drive when I was moving from the fucking shithole known as Illinois, stopped for a week to see family in NJ where we're all from on the way down. (For me it was 80 to 287 to my grandmother's. Then it was the Turnpike to the Delaware Memorial Bridge and 95 the whole way from there.)

If you're going to stop for a night, I suggest around Fayetteville NC. Since it's near a major Army base, the hotels aren't too bad on pricing, and the Chinese food at the place we hit for dinner was surprisingly on point (however that was 21 years ago, place may not even exist anymore).

There are not many patrols in any of the states, and tomorrow you should be totally clear to set at least 90 on the cruise control. Watch out for construction zones, of course...

"I fight for the bagels!"