I was not able to find three florescent bulb that needed to be replaced. The staff was willing to…read moretake the time to assist me in finding the correct items. The cost of the bulbs was excellent value but what I truly appreciated was the service provided.

So frustrated. I show up at 8:53. I need three paint samples. Nice guy says he will be right with…read moreme. I wait. This is how it always is. There's four people on the floor. All of them are doing whatever it is that they're doing, the store is practically empty but yet nobody can help with paint supplies. Finally they ring me up at 9:38 in the morning, the entire process took almost an hour, and he didn't even make it right. It wasn't like he discounted one of the paint samples. It wasn't like he recognized that this process had taken this long. Never again..

I'm not sure why I enjoy shopping here but the idea of "having to go to the hardware store" makes…read moreme smile, in contrast to pretty much every other errand. Very helpful and available staff.

For starters: apparently this place closes at 5:30pm not 6pm as stated online…read more As soon as I walked through the gates at 5:10pm this female worker told me they were shutting down in 10 minutes. No hello, just pretty abrupt and borderline rude. Regardless I planned on being quick as I was just looking for a sun friendly white flower plant and I was hungry and ready to go home. I asked a male worker a quick question about the layout cause it was my first time and he was super helpful and even told me to take my time. Not even 10 minutes after that interaction, I literally picked out the plant I wanted, mime white, and as soon as I picked it up the same female worker told me they were going to close and basically told me to leave lol. I put it back down and said "I guess Ill just leave then" and under her breath, back towards me, said "yeah the website is pretty confusing"... Hmm I dont think it's confusing when its clearly marked 6pm closing. Someone should just update the times! Anyways poor first time experience and would not return. Only reason its not getting one star or below is because at least one person was welcoming and I noticed they were dog friendly.

Pagnano's is an old-world style hardware store, where the staff actually know there stuff…read more As soon as you walk in to Pagnanos, you will be greated and asked if there is anything they can help you find. Name something - anything - and they will instantly rattle off the isle number and which side its on. They give out free popcorn. Love that. Reminds me of a hardware store that I used to go to as a kid. Great personal touch. Parking is always easy. You can be in-and-out within 2 minutes with that hardware item you need.

Today was their last day. I managed to get one last shopping stop in as they were literally packing…read moreup the stuff left. They had a bunch of stuff for free outside for anyone to take, which says a lot about this business. Just bought a home and Mik, Lacy, and Frank have all been helpful in helping me figure out what is useful and what might not be. Will definitely be taking my business to see them for their excellent customer service at the South Shore location even if it is a farther drive from my daughter's preschool because I appreciate their honesty and loyalty to the customer's goals and needs. Will definitely miss the 50% off but I enjoyed it while it lasted! Thanks Mik, Lacy, and Frank!

I bought vinyl from this store. They have a lot different varieties to select. The price is very…read moregood compare to big stores. Overall I am very satisfied with the quality.

This weekend I needed parts for a vintage lamp I had just bought. I walked in carrying the lamp and…read moreno sooner had I said "I'm looking for the globe that goes with this" than the guy working there replied "We can't help you." I was surprised to be dismissed so quickly so I made the motion of looking around like I wanted to see some options. I gently pressed and he again stated "We can't help you." Then he told me to go to Bed Bath & Beyond. 1. I was there because I wanted to support a local business. I could have easily tried Lamps Plus first 2. Before you summarily dismiss a customer, maybe show her the globes you DO have and explain why they would or wouldn't work for her particular lamp 3. This is a 60-year-old lamp...I doubt Bed Bath and Beyond would have what I need So I went to Ensler Lighting in Berkeley and spent my $$ there instead. At first the guy at Ensler also wasn't certain he had what I needed, but guess what? He took the time to look around and experiment and ultimately he was able to jury-rig something that worked great. Imagine that?

OMG. What a gem. A hardware store with everything you could need, laid out in charming, organized…read morefashion. The staff went above and beyond. And I struck up a neighborly conversation with the people in line with me. Support this place. In a world of heartless Home Depot's we need to keep a gem like this alive.

I really want to support local businesses like Cole Hardware. In a world dominated by big-box…read morestores and Amazon, it's great to have an independent hardware store serving the community. Unfortunately, this visit was frustrating. I placed an online order that was estimated to be ready in 15 minutes. I intentionally waited an hour before coming in, but I still had to wait while my order was put together. It honestly would have been faster to walk the aisles myself, grab the item, and pay at the register. What disappointed me even more was the customer service at the front counter. The staff I interacted with came across as dismissive and unfriendly, which made the experience feel less welcoming than I expected. I genuinely want to keep supporting Cole Hardware because local businesses matter. I just hope they can improve the online pickup process and provide a friendlier customer experience. Those two changes would make a big difference and would keep me choosing them over the convenience of Amazon.

Very helpful staff! I went in here to look for oven cleaner, and I was advised to use a heavy…read moredegreaser instead. Hey, makes sense. Lots of choices and prices.

When my ancient phone set died (don't faint youngsters), I had to replace it ASAP. It's for a phone…read morenumber I've had since 1991, the one that all my friends, family, healthcare team call. (I do have a cell for emergencies.) I looked online and found a replacement at the Encinal True Value store, spoke to the very capable Mike & ordered it from him. Not long after, I found another one online from the same manufacturer that seemed a better fit for my needs (one receiver instead of 2) at a considerably lower price. Mike agreed to order the 2nd one and match the price. He is a solid guy; even though the wait time was long (I joked with my friends that the warehouse must be in Anchorage), I made the deal. It was necessary to go to the store to pick it up once it came in. When I went there, parking wasn't bad though there is no dedicated store parking, it's all on nearby streets. While there I got a couple of other things for myself and a friend. It's fun to go up and down the aisles, reminds me of my childhood, nostalgic and somehow sweet. Unfortunately, when I later tried to exchange one brand of super glue I'd bought there for another, one of the clerks, a woman, actually followed me (& the friend who'd driven me there) onto the aisle to tell me why I shouldn't do that as we were looking for a better version. Not cool and VERY off-putting. I am old but not feeble-minced. sheesh Let me make up my own darn mind! Sadly, it got worse on my 3rd trip to the store. The same woman clerk took too much convincing when I asked to speak with Mike (I thought he'd undercharged me for the phone set). She became increasingly argumentative, then bordering on nasty. yeah When Mike came up from the back, he had to ask her to step away. She still continued mouthing off. I said, "Wow." And he said, "Wow is right," then proceeded to kindly and patiently explain how I had misread my receipts. I will not reveal her name, she apparently has ample problems to sort out. [I just noticed the horrific post from Brianna M. Oct. 2025 - the road rage woman is highly likely this woman clerk. Good grief, that was a police matter, still is.***] However, I will say - I urge you to look at this store before buying on Amazon. We need to support our local merchants and this is a good one. (Pagano's is DISMAL, don't go there...) But, if you go in, ask for Mike. You really don't want to interact with the wacky woman.*** One star off for the long wait to get the phone set + unasked for "advice" about super glue (Mike did that too during my 3rd visit) One star off for the out of control clerk. ***Yelp staff - this is a public safety issue. I hope you have done everything possible to address it since Brianna M. posted nearly a year ago.

I highly recommend shopping at Pagano's Hardware. Their customer service is outstanding, and their…read moreprices are fair. While some items may cost a little more than they do at the big-box stores, I prefer supporting a locally owned business that truly values its customers. I shop there for hardware, plumbing supplies, paint, gardening products, and a wide variety of other household needs. I've been a loyal customer for decades, and they continue to earn my business with their knowledgeable staff and exceptional service.

What happened to Local Alameda Business Pride? I can't tell if I just went to Pagano's... or Home…read moreDepot. Sunday morning, I walked in, maybe 1-2 customers in there. I was greeted, which let's be honest, I should be. No offer to help me find anything. The stock was beyond half of what could be there. Are they closing? I finally found what I was looking for, buying the last of all 3 items in stock from the shelf. I get to the register, where the young lady has to put away her mobile phone, stopping her from texting, scrolling, posting, who knows.. No acknowledgement, no "did you find everything you were looking for".. just sullen silence. She rings me up, I tap and gather my things, and begin to walk away. Then, I stop and say, "You're Welcome" to which I receive a blank stare. As I'm walking out, I say out loud to her, and the woman in the paint area, "You know, I came here to support local Alameda business. I could have just gone to Home Depot and paid less. The least you could do is Thank me for my business". The girl at the register says, "I said Hello to you when you walked in". Yeah, cuz that's exceptional customer service. I hope I didn't pull you away from staring at your phone too long, to do that. And this, Alameda Businesses, is what not to do.

A great asset for the hill area. Surprisingly diverse consumer and professional product lines, an…read moreabundance housed in a medium-sized facility. The guys always know the inventory, and the prices are frequently lower than Home Depot. Two thumbs up.

It's a convenient neighborhood hardware store. It looks small on the outside but it's pretty big…read morein the inside. They have a pretty large selection of things you need. The service was great! The staff seemed happy to work there and always so helpful.

I can always appreciate the flow of service and knowledgable staff at this location…read more I've picked up some really beautiful plants here and they have a fairly decent selection for a decent price

Tom is awesome! He knows a bit of everything and keeps our favorite Ace running smoothly!read more

Folks here are detailed, professional and knowledgeable. They will get shit done…read more Very happy with the tiles and countertop I got here. Customer service was nice and even though the contractor who installed for us said a total of 4 sentences to us only, he was a pro and did a fantastic job. They are definitely a no-nonsense business. Get your shit together before you pull up to their store. Know what you want and make good and quick decisions. Would recommend and come back soon again!

Decent staff. Lot of stuff. But very crowded feel. Not great prices.read more