This hardware store is packed to the ceiling and every aisle is overflowing with old stock. They started in 1927! I found them because I needed to go to Acme locksmiths (acme is a super weird ancient business name.) I had good experiences with Acme OTR https://www.yelp.com/biz/acme-lock-woods-hardware-cincinnati-5. This Acme has their own free parking. Acme is across the street from Landwehr, or I would never have found it, They have Christmas year around, toys, board games. Included are yard ornaments. It's really not what most people would think of a hardware store, really doesn't appear to have a good collection of hardware, and the staff, usually one person, is not busy. It's much better as a film set for a spooky weird or quirky cute Tim Burton movie. It would also be a goldmine for set decorators! It could be an alternate toy shopping experience for children, so different from big box and artisanal children stores. I enjoy hardware stores. The old Aufdenkampe Hardware was counter service like Portland's Winks Hardware. Hyde Park Lumber also had great service, lumber and nails. That's my expectation. Product knowledge. Sadly product knowledge has been supplanted by clueless megas importing low quality, Lowes, Home Depot and Menards, along with strugglers Ace and Best; they all have bland upstream supply chains. One fond memory was visiting my neighborhood hardware in another city searching for a hand citrus juicer. They said "I think we have those." They found a glass one in the basement and they charged the original cost. $.88. Honest. I still have it. Another time I had to find a hardware store in Eldoret, Kenya for work gloves and got the owner's observations on the sociology of the country. This is an interesting neighborhood. See Landwehrs before it passes to development. And buy something there! More: http://www.rcnky.com/articles/2015/05/03/decades-family-business-has-seen-ups-downs-downtown-covington read more

Please, please, please do yourself a favor and get to Landwehrs. If you're a fan of the Christmas Story Movie, walking into this store is like BEING in that film. Landwehrs is a piece of Americana that I worry (seriously worry) will fall by the wayside--a traditional Hardware, paint and toy store like your grandparents took your mom and dad to--you get errands done, and pick up a model train or airplane because they were so good while there. The old storefront is jam packed with items--long sweeping hardwood floors and original shelving from the turn of the century provide room for stock all the way to the top of the 13 foot ceilings. And the stuff!!!! Amazing things--twin zinc sinks for basement or potting shed use. General hardware, electrical and other items, but Landwehrs has "green living" items, too--though I'm pretty sure they simply fall under the term "common sense items". I bought my canning equipment here a few years back--they were the only place in a 30 mile radius that had any. I go back here for jars and anything else I might need for canning. I've been told by a machinist that Landwehr's has parts that he larger hardware stores don't stock anymore. The owner is SO very helpful, and I never leave empty handed. There is ALWAYS something I need, even if it's not what I walked in for. Another treasure for the City of Covington. Sure, these folks could take a bus to Newport Shopping Center to Kmart, but why would they? He's got everything they want, right there. At Christmas, they have all the really cool old Christmas Decorations our parents put out when we were small, for sale right out front. Did my heart good to see those decorations all lit up with the snow just before Christmas. I even bought a Rudolph last year because, well, having a little kid makes you nostalgic. read more

Going to give this place three stars. I'd give it five stars but this is the reason why I'm not is because every time I go in there he tries to push the store on me do you need any model kits do you need this do you need that no I don't I just need what's on the counter. Then he'll say well we have this this and this for sale and again no I don't want it.... very pushy at times and not good for business that's why I stopped going in here as much As I used to because Tom does the same thing to me every time trying to sell you everything in the store. I can understand the small businesses being desperate for money and business but this is definitely one way to drive what little business you have completely away. They may want to rethink their sales skills because it is not cool doing business like that with customers... when a customer says they don't want something it should be left at that and not well we have this in this if you need that no I don't again I just need what items I have here on the counter. Absolutely ridiculous If not for that I would've given this business five stars read more