Pretty much stellar. LOL. Ok so its just a little hardware store, but since I was almost killed attempting to drive to Home Depot I'd MUCH rather walk three blocks to a hardware. Also I know nothing about any sort of tool or contraption, I just use my screw driver to pound nails in the walls for pictures. Anyhow cute little old man and his son run this place. It's a True Value hardware if that means anything to you. To my parents this means a three hour conversation, and ten trips to the hardware store in three days just to get screws and a plug for my drain. So if you like to chat about screws this is the place to go. Really helpful too, the second I walked in the door they asked what I needed and went right to it, and then I got right out, not busy at all, maybe one or two people in there at a time. Come here to find the little odds and ends you really need. read more

I love this hardware store. They're no-frills, but really fast if you need keys made, and really helpful if you have no idea what you need to fix what you broke. I came in once needing to remove nails from a bookshelf I assembled... um, backwards, and the father and son who run the place walked all around the store with me to find the cheapest, easiest-to-use tool. They could have easily sold me something twice as expensive, and they definitely could have made fun of me, but were nice enough to do neither. read more

Stuck-up with an attitude like they are the only hardware shop in town. The guys at 20th & Pine make them look like the amateurs they are. I will certainly go the extra distance next time! read more

Smallish selection, but they generally have a bit of everything and they're always willing to order things for you. Very friendly and accommodating staff, particularly the owner (I think) and the dude who sounds like Mos Def and says "jawn" a lot. Hard to ask for more in a local hardware store. I'd give full marks if not for the gentleman with the epic rat tail (keymaker, I think) who is often surly af. read more

I recently moved into a new apartment and have been completely renovating the backyard. I'm a very DIY prone person, but am pretty young and haven't had much experience with building and big projects. The guys at Monarch have been incredibly helpful. The store is well stocked with everything I need at affordable prices for even young college students such as myself. read more

Used them once for lock change and once for lock out. Both times I called, gave my address and someone arrived within 15 minutes. Couldn't ask for anything more. read more

Excellent, knowledgeable, and friendly service, the gentlemen at Monarch were able to help me pick the right screws and hangers in order to hang a finicky curtain bracket in my plaster walls (which had fallen down three times already). Even though I ended up having to come back after the first attempt didn't work (due to my lack of knowledge regarding the walls and the size of my bracket) they were happy to exchange an unopened packet of anchors for something else (which then worked). Now when I need any type of hardware or home-maintenance supply, I'll be coming to the guys at Monarch for help. They really know their stuff! read more

Used these guys twice. They are super helpful and generous. Once they didn't have what I needed because it was a specialty item and they gave me two places to check instead of just letting me leave empty handed. read more

Wanted to charge me $29 to break a padlock which costs $7 to buy. Since I was asking for ten locks to be broken they reduced the charge to $150. This on top of $79 to rekey a deadbolt. A big bolt cutter at Home Depot sells for $49.99 and a rotating saw sells for $29.99. This pricing does not seem reasonable by a mile. Good luck with someone else. read more

Great little shop with plenty squeezed in, very helpful and a quick easy experience.

The manager (owner?) is consistently incredibly rude to me when I go here- I'm laid back would like to support local business and really don't care much about customer service but it is invariably such a bad experience I'm going to have to make the trek elsewhere from now on. He typically asks me what I need stares at me blankly barks some one word answer and walks away. An empty store with self checkout would be preferable. read more

I have live around the corner from this place for the better part of a decade and have visited the store dozens of times for last minute needs. I am generally a very laid back person and I don't generally care a lick about customer service. That said, the store owner is invariably patronizing and rude every single time I go there. He's also almost always there when I've gone to the store and is really pushy and in your face about what you should or should not be looking for. I also get that this is a small out of the way store, but it is way over priced for what it is. I think today will be the last time I walk into that store. read more

Needed some weird-looking lightbulbs that CVS didn't have, and there was absolutely no way I was making the trek to Home Depot unless I had to. So thankful that a quick Google search brought me to Monarch, which happens to be two blocks away from my apartment! I was greeted by a sweet old lady pretty much as soon as I walked in, and she was quick to help me find exactly what I needed. She was very careful and thorough, and even checked with some of the other guys who worked there to make sure that what she got was the correct lightbulb. I was in and out in five minutes, which didn't give me a whole lot of time to check out what else they had, but the store looked pretty stocked with...well, everything. I paid a little more than I would've liked for lightbulbs (but then again I know nothing about the pricing of anything hardware-related), but I definitely won't complain about convenience and friendly service! read more

I saw all the comments about personnel being rude but I did not experience that. However, I was sold something I did not need. Upon returning said item, was told there was a 15% charge for returning the item. Don't know if that's legal but I didn't argue the point. If you go there, be sure of what you want. read more

Monarch is always there when I need them! I have purchased the most random things from this place, but they always have whatever I am looking for. The keys that they make always work , too! Wish they were open later! read more

As an architecture grad student who lived around the corner for two years, I can tell you that this place is 10,000% Philly charm. Friendly, honest, straightforward, and been there since the 30's. They have almost anything you need tucked in a corner, neatly organized in an old metal bin, or behind a hidden little handmade shelf somewhere. And though Home Depot has 50 options for the same thing at a buck or two cheaper, you'll appreciate keeping such a great little hometown shop open instead (that's my historic-preservation circuit talking). Seriously, they've had just about everything I've ever needed from a neighborhood hardware store for the last 6 years. The owners still run it (take that, Home Depot) and they're sweet as can be. They know everything you need to know and then some. Take it from a proto-architect, this place is super handy! Wouldn't mind retiring with a little shop just like this one, actually. Maybe I should get a job there and start working my way up :-) read more

Mostly pretty good. Not a bad place to go if you live in the area, certainly better customer service than the big box stores.

Really helpful. They "got" exactly what I needed for the situation, and didn't try to upsell me. Very convenient. Friendly staff.

I went there today because I needed some tools to paint my room. I had never painted anything before, and the person who helped me out, Dave, was extremely nice. He took the time to show me all the tools that I needed and to explain how I should go about painting the room. Excellent services, great prices, 5 stars well deserved. read more

They quickly and efficiently copied car keys for me that a previous locksmith had failed to do, and I swear the new keys work better than the original they were copied from, and they were cheap too. Everyone there was very friendly and helpful, and they let me test the first key they copied before they cut the rest. I'd definitely go there again. read more

I just moved to this section of west philly and needed a key made. So this past Thursday I came in and met the kind older gentleman who was happy to duplicate my key and assist me with buying 4 rubber identifiers and a bottle of super glue. I was happy with my purchase and was on my way. I went home slid the key in the lock and it opened without a hitch. A few hrs later I gathered up a few broken objects that needed to be fixed and opened up the superglue unscrewed the top and tried to pull out the applicator brush and found that all the glue had hardened and it was all useless. On Saturday when I was back in the area I returned to the store and found a new man working. I explained to him the situation, showed him the glue and the box it had came in with the stores price tag still affixed. He asked for a receipt. A small shred of tissue paper with a few scratches marked on it. After I found the key worked I discarded such a tiny piece of paper. I told him as much and was met with disbelief. "How do I know you bought it here?" I told him who was working the day the time and everything I bought. "We don't accept returns without a receipt!" I told him I hadn't kept the worthless shred of paper since I assumed that the merchandise they sold wouldn't be faulty. He brought me into the back of the store and grudgingly with a lot of attitude gave me a refund. Told me how I got what I wanted and "was I glad"? Yeah I got what I came back for but didn't need the attitude to go with it. I told him that I'm a contractor and would return to make more purchases. Then he started being a real d-bag and told me perhaps it was best I didn't. I can assure you that I'll take his advice and never spend a cent there for sure without competitive prices the customer service is what keeps small businesses like this running. The piss poor attitude of what I assume is the owners son is gonna sink this business for sure. Apparently he doesn't need business to continue operating. So I would suggest that if your looking to spend your money go somewhere that isn't run by an asshole that inherited his daddy's business but wasn't left with his fathers desire to be friendly and run an honest business. read more

I happened into monarch some years ago because I only needed a few small items and didn't feel like going all the way to homedepot. I don't normally write reviews, but I was prompted because of the ONE bad review that was written. From the very first time I went in that store they have always been helpful, friendly and mannerly. I also notcied the first and almost every time I go in that a lot of contracors do business with them, which is a good sign. I have gone in some times confused about what to do about a project where to start or how to do it and I have always but always gotten the help I needed. Infact I have never gone for an item and they did not have it , you ask if they have a certain item and if it's not on the showroom floor, they go to the basement. They have helped me with so many things including taking the time to go outside with me to help match paint colors helping pick knobs for kitchen cabinets. I could go on and on. The fact is they take PRIDE in their business and what they do read more