I use Cole and Cliff's interchangeably for small household repair stuff. While I think Cliff's is more spacious and more fun, don't let the cramped, dim aisles put you off -- this is a very good neighborhood hardware store with selection and good service. The staff is normally very helpful. read more

I might as well walk in with a sign on my forehead; "Hardware illiterate, simple English please." But since I don't think sharpie'ed forehead goes down well amongst Cole Valley residents, I instead threw a bunch of questions at the Cole Hardware staff... who answered in plain, simple language for me, the idiot. Why the visit? Came home one day and found the house's toilet not working... and my adorable yet Queen of a roomie wouldn't get his hands dirty. So I trotted down the road, had a charades worthy routine to indicate what's wrong with the toilet. The Cole Hardware staffer understood (yay), recommended a more water efficient alternative (double yay) and even told me how to install it myself (gulp). But you know, it all worked! Will certainly be back. Not the cheapest around but great service and well stocked. read more

The best store EVER, and not just for hardware! This store is a neighborhood staple, a dearly beloved gem tucked in cute little Cole Valley. Stepping in is like stepping back through time, before the modern aesthetic of stores became wide and vast and white and glassy. Cole Hardware is cozy and cramped and cluttered, a magical treasure trove of all manner of practical and wondrous things. Since moving to the neighborhood, we've looked nowhere else for the vast majority of our daily supplies. They have kitchenware, cleaning stuff, storage, camping, power tools, vacuums, odds and ends, beautiful Edison light bulbs, etc etc. And my personal favorite department is their nursery and gardening equipment! So many beautiful plants - their air plants are top notch: healthy, robust, and very reasonably priced! The staff here is wonderful. Sometimes there's not enough of them to go around but they are always helpful and really go out of your way to find exactly what you're looking for. This location also hosts monthly happy hour nights with giveaways and fun workshops and deals. The number of places where you can feel such an overwhelming sense of community is sadly diminishing in this city, but here, it is very much alive! And I hope it will be here for decades to come. read more

You have to love the old school service, the neighborhood feel and the eclectic inventory at Cole Hardware. They even have a little garden section in the back that has everything you need for your windowsill herb garden or urban vegetable patch. Not that you asked but I also try to spend money here over Target/Walmart/Home Depot etc. so that a little more of my hard-earned income goes back into the community. I have to imagine these employees make more than the minimum wage like at the big box stores and extra profits go to the family that's been dedicated to running the handful of SF locations over the years. Ah, the American Dream! Also, props to Amber who spotted a look of confusion on my face and then spent the next 5 minutes guiding me around to different things I needed. She really went above and beyond to help me out! read more

Loved these guys when we were renting, and love them even more since becoming home owners. We've been making 2-3 Cole runs per week, and they always have what we're looking for and good people to talk to for advice. It's pretty remarkable how much they cram into their store. We've recently used their service referral service a few times, and have been very happy with the response time (lightning fast) and the results. In particular, we had a good experience with their locksmith Marc Estoque, who installed new locks and fixed some door issues for us. He was extremely courteous and professional, didn't try to upsell us (he actually suggested less expensive options on several occasions), and did a great job. Also like the fact that they have recycling bins available for just about everything (batteries, plastic bags, light bulbs, etc.) Just an awesome store. read more

Hands down the best customer service I've ever been given- EVER. First, they have a dedicated person greeting you at the door to make sure you find what you need. and then they show you options, ask you questions and make sure you get exactly what you're looking for. This location gets big ups in particular for their back-room nursery. A hidden gem, they've got a variety of plants, planters, and apartment-friendly plants, including hanging plants which I was having trouble finding at other local stores. They've got good sales every so often and free reusable bags for grocery runs. I never thought I'd love a hardware store but this place is the best. read more

When did Cole become Lowes? I've always supported Cole Hardware because it is a local business with knowledgeable staff. However, that was not the case today. The attitude from the staff today was apathetic and unmotivated. I bought a padlock and asked for 15 keys made for that same lock. I was first asked to purchase everything before getting confirmation that the keys that were to be made were going to fit, more of an unsure kind of response. Second, I was told 10 mins, but instead had spent 40+ mins waiting. Two other customers had asked for keys after me but was given priority to my keys being made. Third, 14 out of 15 of the keys made did not work, ever after I had left them the lock to test the keys. This is the type of experience I would expect at Lowes but at a much lower price. read more

Cole Hardware is the BEST! I love shopping at this place. I have received so much free consultation from their friendly and knowledgable staff that I have been able to do repairs at my home that I would have had to hire someone to do. Great combination of "nuts and bolts" hardware, plus great stuff for the home and kitchen. I highly recommend Cole, and the Frequent Shopper Program is a winner! read more

Cole Hardware is mesmerizing. You'll go there to buy, say, a MUNI pass and some widget-y thing, and get hopelessly rabbit holed. Suddenly you're contemplating everything from dish towels to decorative doorknobs to some other widget-y thing you once thought you might possibly need but you can't remember why. And maybe you could buy a plant, too. Except that, if you're me, you kill plants, so scratch that and oh! instead you could paint! How about red? For the bathroom. And hey, you need a colander too. I think you get the picture. Full o' stuff, useful stuff. And nice folks working there, too. read more

Yay! Still a fan. Recent experiences: 1) In the past 6 months I have been on an indoor plant buying binge and have spent about $200 on indoor plants. With some consultation, I have found ones that are hard to kill. All $200 is still alive. 2) They jacked up some keys I wanted copied. Another dude fixed them several days later. I didn't have a receipt but the big 'ACE' on the key... 3) The paint guy in the paint section was incredibly helpful. Incredibly. read more

I should own stock in Cole Hardware! if I'm there once a week I'm there 5 or 6 times! and like cheers it's a place where everybody knows your name. I've done horrible things there: losty phone, my wallet, my shopping list, had to return full orders because clients duplicated them - the staff has always come to my rescue and resolved the issue. special orders- "let us help you!" returns - "no problem!" paint matching or questions- Carla's the woman to seek out- what a wealth of knowledge! and and an eye! like none other!!! general store know how you can ask basically anyone but Sarah's my go to Lady! there's yet to be a 'fix it' or problem in the Edwardian I've lived in 25 years that Cole Hardware hasn't been able to come to the rescue for. Thanks Rick and the gang for all those nights you've stayed open for me those 5 extra minutes! and the tree clippings at the holidays and your service to nonprofits- KUDOS to all! Love You! your most loyal fan/addict rochelle read more

Hired a handyman to fix my leaking toilet - a handyman with a 4.5 star rating on Cole Hardware's website. He diagnosed the problem over the phone and brought a replacement part with him to make the repair. He told me on the phone that this part would absolutely fix the problem. However, the replacement part did not fix the problem and my toilet is still leaking. When I pointed that out to him he basically shrugged his shoulders, charged me $100 and left without fixing the toilet. So, if anyone out there knows someone who's actually capaple of fixing a toilet I'd love to hear from them. read more

Very nice hardware store. Has a lot of different varieties for the homeowners or the contractors all the plumbers or electricians. The got most of the regular common items. Prices are 20% more then Home Depot or Lowe's. Has a few locations which is very convenient. Difficult with a parking but overall it's good. read more

my neighborhood savior! always helpful, knowledgable staff and the new store front looks great! Amber and Dawn are just absolute peaches as well! Amber got my questions sorted like a dream and dawn was just as pleasant checking out! I love shopping locally! And Cole Valley Hardware makes it easy and rewarding. read more

A Cole Valley institution, Cole Hardware has nearly everything for the home. Maybe that's because there really isn't any other retail in Cole Valley, but that's splitting hairs. The paint selection is fairly extensive. They mix quarts or gallons of Pratt & Lambert paint, which I used in my apartment. It's good (but expensive) paint, and it gets lots of compliments. Frequent Shoppers get a little keyring card, and they'll pay for postage if someone finds 'em and drops 'em in the mailbox. There is a price/service tradeoff, but who goes to Home Depot every time they need a lightbulb? read more

Dear Cole Hardware, I'm afraid I find myself in the position of having to break up with you. When we met 15 years ago, you were the perfect solution for the loss of Goodman's. You were helpful, knowledgeable and honest. I loved sharing my great experience with others, I was a walking ad for you. But you got lazy, sloppy and gruff. Now your favorite word is NO and you say it BEFORE the end of the question. No we don't fix lamps anymore, no we don't carry that paint, no we don't have a referral for that, before you knew what I was asking. I'm done. Now you tell me a paint, you are suppose to carry, swore 2 years ago you would carry and even still have on your shelves you don't have. Because you are a SPECIAL Ace hardware, that doesn't have to follow their rules. You act worse than Home Depot. Because you are arrogant, but no longer have the experience and knowledge to be that way. My advise is if you want quality, knowledgeable hardware staff without an attitude, drive to the Peninsula. BTW- I will be contacted Ace directly as well, because I'm pretty sure they have criteria for their stores you are not following. read more

Cole Hardware - Bye Bye membership card - Hardware Stores Near Me - San Francisco, California

I actually ENJOY going to Cole Hardware. that's right, I love buying light bulbs and bleach and Benjamin Moore paint at Cole Hardware. it is about the most friendly hardware store on the planet. before you even have a chance to ask for help, one, two, THREE different employees ask YOU if you need help. then they help!! Cole Hardware is a small-town store in a nice big city. prices are decent, if not a wee bit higher than some other joints. I'm willing to take that in trade for high delightful the shopping experience is there. the windows are always creative - a treat to behold! the store is fun to explore, too ... they're open every day of the year. every day. parking can be a bitch, but the N drops off about 100 feet away, so no complaints!! read more

I love this place, nice people, great service! Parking is a b*tch, but once you find a space... read more

I've used them three times. The furniture refinishing guy criticized my small table (well _I_ like it!). He returned it in very good shape but complained about how hard it was to repair. I gave him another table at that time. He claimed he'd finish it to be impervious to water and my grandkids (none yet that I know of) would have the same finish. Water from a Christmas tree ruined it, however. Then he wanted to charge two round trips even though he was here only three times, not four. The handrail refinisher did a good enough job but tried charging me significantly more than his original hourly rate until I reminded him of his hourly quote. The garage-door guy was excellent and had to custom make a spring. Very fast and attentive. read more

Cole Hardware is the gold standard in my book when it comes to neighborhood hardware stores. I walk past twice a day and can tell whether or not they are open without looking at the time when their beautiful plant offerings are posted out front. This practice of theirs really jazzes up the neighborhood and truly offers an inviting experience for anyone passing. Since my move to Cole Valley, I find myself roaming the aisles at Cole Hardware at least once a week in search of random hardware store stuff and am consistently impressed with the attentiveness and overall knowledge of the staff. I appreciate that they take time to explain how something works (without me asking!) before I make a purchase. I know that when I head in, any questions I have will be quickly answered without judgement (of the fact that I rarely have any idea how stuff works.) This is also a fantastic place to wander. The selection of practical tools/parts/needs are appropriately balanced with stuff that is fun to have and fun to buy but that you can probably find elsewhere (and likely at a cheaper price) such as wellies, greeting cards, coffee mugs, etc. Many thanks to Cole Hardware for exceptional service thus far; I look forward to my next visit. read more

Huge fan. I've spent so much money here in the last month painting that I'm convinced I'm their most frequent frequent shopper. Staff is always helpful (even when you come in three times in one day) and willing to find someone who knows a department better if it's not their particular area of expertise. It's also a breeze to drop off your old paint for hazardous waste disposal here. read more

Cole Hardware reminds you why the family owned hardware store is so amazing. This place really carries everything. I mean everything. From hammers to nails, plumbing fixtures to kitchen items, a whole garden section and even a picnic and outdoor area. Cole Hardware does it all and with great staff as well. I could spend hours walking its aisles and never be bored. Also, Cole Hardware is a drop off site for paint. It just has to be latex and have paint in the can. read more

Makes my local ACE hardware store look positively anemic. Fun to poke around and explore. In 10 minutes something like 6 people asked me if I needed help - they weren't the friendliest attitude-wise but I'm sure they would have helped had I needed to find something amidst all the hard and soft wares. 4 stars for a nice neighborhood hardware store, much more enjoyable then going to the super store chains. read more

This place is awesome! The ideal neighborhood hardware store. Great selection considering the size of the store and the people, wow, they are super nice and extremely helpful. I've had multiple odd little projects I've been working on at my place and they've always been able to help me figure out exactly what I need. This place is great! read more

I heart Cole Hardware. I've gone in there every weekend for the past two months with different needs to fix up our home, and they have always been extremely helpful. The lovely gentleman in the back who is in charge of paint is a gem, and I really like most of the people that work there. Although the cashiers could be a little nicer + more helpful at times (or not carry on a conversation with themselves while a customer is in front of them), the rest of the people who are running around are really, really wonderful. read more

When I lived in Atlanta, I went to Target a lot. Ok, let's get this straight. I WENT TO TARGET A LOT. Yes, there was that one time I went four times in one day, and that other time I spent over $500. But I digress... Upon moving to San Francisco with nary a Target in (close) proximity, I started to panic. No Target? But where would I get my trash bags? Where would I get WD-40? Where would I get MY KITSCHY EASTER DOOHICKEYS THAT I DIDN'T NEED? Oh right. Cole Hardware. While they don't carry Isaac Mizarahi nor cute Moschino bathing suits, I found that you can get those elsewhere and concentrate on the things you really need here: like F1 Dirt Devil Hepa Filters, for instance. Or deviled egg cups. Or beach chairs. Don't underestimate Cole Hardware, especially this one on Cole (which I assume is the original) - they've got everything you need. And even some stuff you didn't even realize you did. read more

What a great service. Why fiddle around with Craigslist, ServiceMagic, or the phone book? Why pay for Angie's List?! Larry and team at Cole Hardware's home repair referral service offer up referrals to some of the best, affordable, and reliable tradesman/handyman in the area. Larry always keeps his referrals up-to-date. If a repair person does sub-standard work and does not "make it right" or is constantly late, Cole strikes them from the list. Larry will often spot check with a client to see if the referral worked out. Cole's service is also always fast to respond to all requests. If you call during office hours, you usually have a referral within hours. If you call after hours, you will get a referral the next day. [and if you email after hours, you might even get it that evening... :) ] Cole Hardware's home repair referral service has been my go-to place to find quality tradesman in SF for the last 3 years. This is a great service for anyone who owns a home or operates rental property in SF. read more

Oh my holy crap this place is a rip-off. 2x4s for $5. Boxes of screws for $7. These things are like $2/3 at Lowes... Of course, Lowes is a 20 minute drive away. And there's always traffic down there. So they can charge you $5 for a $2 piece of wood... But I'm not happy about it. read more

Came here for some key identifiers and screws. I needed help with getting the right screws and the customer service was great. The person who helped me was super attentive and spent 10+ minutes with me. Would come back. read more

It's great to support your local hardware store, hence some of the pricing- might not always be a budget saver. Most of the staff rocks and are quite knowledgable about most products. Hard to find someone to unlock case, but I get it- it's busy. Male customers there are annoying if you're a woman buying anything that deals with carpentry. But at least the staff does not play into misogyny. read more

Cole Hardware is a friendly helpful place where you can get just about everything you need for your home and garden. Customer service is outstanding and they even have a frequent shoppers club. Membership is free and there is a warranty on most most products available. Ask for more details So next time you have to go to a hardware and home improvement store, remember that there is a local source that can meet the need. Meter parking is available right outside the door. Yet it is a busy area and parking is not easy to find. MUNI bus and the N-Judah trolley lines stop near by. Credit and ATM cards are accepted and they offer gift cards. Delivery is available within San Francisco. Cole Hardware is also listed on Twitter and Face Book. read more

Love, love, love this place! Everyone is so friendly and helpful. I didn't think I had anything to add to what other Yelpers have written, but I do have to respond to the others who say that they suck at copying keys. Not so! I had house keys made and they work just like the originals. Plus, they have a great selection of designer keys! Way more than you would see at other hardware stores. Interestingly, I was in Cliff's Variety on Castro recently, and overheard an angry customer who was bringing back key copies they had made there that didn't work. He was angry because the Cliff's employee didn't offer a refund without question. read more

Incredibly friendly service - definitely will be shopping here over Home Depot for most of my hardware needs. Had to buy a garage door opener and they explained how it would be easy to return even if I found out it didn't work. Only problem was the mark up :) Still, plan on coming back here often. read more

Cole hardware has a very helpful staff. It is a pleasure to shop there. Last week they helped me to find a summer item even though it was out of season. read more

This review is specifically for Marc Estoque, Locksmith at Cole Hardware. Have you ever had one of those days, where everything wrong happens at once? On Sunday I had a perfect storm of crazy circumstances, all of which caused me to be locked out of my apartment for over two hours. Marc to the rescue! He was professional, kind and generous - everything you need when your day has been turned upside-down. I highly recommend his services. Thank you Marc! read more

I shop here often but only because it's close. Most of the cashiers and staff are friendly but today was different. Admittedly I just wanted some quarters, but I asked as soon as I got there if they offered cash back and the cashier by the door said stoically, "Yes." So I bought some household goods and when he rang me up he didn't explain what to do correctly so I ended up paying for my things without gettin' cash back. Alright. Whatever. I'm not upset yet. So I run and get some paper towels to try again. I said, "Can I get two dollars in quarters." He replied, "I don't have any." Haha! Okay now I'm sad. C'mon now! I'm a cashier; I know that if you don't have quarters in your drawer, you're a screw up. He was just being a little lazy b**** cashier. Well whatever... Seems like they could try a little harder to offer some positive service. A smile here and there doesn't hurt either. Thanks Omar??? read more

This is a review for the referral service only. After trying several times, beginning in 2009, I am giving up totally on this service. They referred me to a furniture refinisher who was never available, to another refinsher who turned out to be a handyman who did not have his own shop but was happy to do the work at my place - no. He sounded too creepy on the phone. And the third time I tried for this particular service the person on the phone told me that "this is hard but try XYZ" (not the real name). The last time I tried the referral service, for a different home service, within the last couple of weeks, I asked that they provide me with the name(s) and I would vet the business myself. Guess what - they didn't listen to me and turned over my email address to the company! Luckily I vetted them, found that there were some questionable practices and didn't contact them. Of course they contacted me and I told them I would not be asking them for any services at all. To try to smooth over my ruffled feathers I was offered a Gift Certificate - well no thank you very much. I don't intend to avail myself of anything having to do with them. I'm very disappointed in their advertising how wonderful Cole Hardware's referral service is when they are a complete bust in my opinion. I question just how much they actually know about the providors, and how current their information is. read more

I love Cole hardware, but they appear to have a couple of new male staff at the 9th Street store who didn't get the memo that it's 2021. Went in to buy a small metal piece to crimp two pieces of wire together and had to go through all sorts of "little lady" bullshit. I'm an electrical engineer.... AYFKM? I put up with enough of this crap working for GE in the early 80s. They need to train their staff or dump them. read more

One of the nicest hardware stores I've ever been to. Packed to the gills with useful and also frivolous adorable stuff. Canning needs? Toys for kids? Gorilla shelving racks? Keys made? All of that stuff. Lots of staff to question. Don't count on parking on that block though. read more

There's a whole universe in here. Explore it. I too have had keys made here, and 2 of them don't work so great, but then they are probably 4th or 5th generation keys, so I'm not complaining. My roommate was ecstatic about her zebra and snake pattern keys. Never seen someone so excited about keys. Seriously! read more