Driving along Central Parkway, you can't miss Hartke Hardware: a bright blue building with an…read moreiconic sign, a heart with a key. Hartke Hardware is Ohio's oldest hardware store originating in 1839. A fourth generation family owned store, Hartke specializes in locks, keys, security, and restoration hardware. There are over 200,000 types of keys here; you'll definitely have a variety to pick from! Hartke takes pride in its roots with its 19th century decor. Even if you aren't in need of hardware, stop by and check out this amazing Art Deco building!

Great price on cut glass. Needed odd sizes for a shelf unit, they took my measurements and cut…read moreperfectly. And turn around time was great. Price was a plus also.

This store truly has almost everything a customer needs. The staff is friendly and helpful and…read moreready to take heavy purchases to the car for you.

I grew up going to my neighbourhood hardware store with my parents. It was small and smelled like…read morefertiliser, but my parents generally came away with what they needed. Nothing exciting to see here, kid. As if by some cosmic stroke of fortune, the advent of the super-sized hardware stores (you know the ones I'm talking about so I'm not going to name them) coincided with the purchase of my first home. I'm not exaggerating when I claim to have spent HOURS in those stores -- looking at hundreds of faucets, light fixtures, paint samples, etc. it was like Yuppie Candyland. At this point in my life, however, I've come full circle on the hardware front. I don't want to spend 20-30 minutes driving to the superstore, and I certainly don't want to spend hours looking at all the products (That's want the internet is for!). Above all, however, I want to be able to talk to someone who can give me sound, knowledgeable advice about my project. Meet Brian, the owner of Ace Hardware in Clifton. "I'm restoring X --- what do you recommend?" He and most of his well trained staff have RARELY failed me. "Use this type of primer, that type of paint (always Benjamin Moore because it's the best), this o-ring, that turnbuckle, this filter, that electric mower." I'm not saying that I never go to the superstores -- Ace can hold only so much--but this is always my first stop, and like my parents, I come away more often than not with exactly what I needed.

Love having a hardware store in the neighborhood. They are very helpful and efficient! Highly…read morerecommend.

They have everything you need, especially for older homes, and it's within walking distance of my…read morehouse! Great personal attention so I don't have to research things before I go. I can just ask them and they get me what I need and tell me how to use it. Great part of the Covington neighborhood!

A true gem of a hardware store! So glad to have this place to go to when a project has hit a snag…read more-- Kevin always has a suggestion or a solution! His repair service is superlative too... he has fixed two lawnmowers for me and both ran like new when I got them back. Need an obscure fastener? If he doesn't have it, his dad at Camp Washington Hardware probably will! I have been and will continue to be a happy and loyal patron!

My go-to spot for my hardware needs with personalized help, and these folks are experts…read more If they dont have it, they WILL get it for you. Support Stores Like This!

It's wild to me that I am here writing a review about a bad experience from 10 months ago that I…read morethought was handled, but has actually come back to haunt me. In June of 2023 I called a contacted Acme through Yelp because I had filled out a "project" request. The request was to unlock a residential doorknob of a basement for a property that I managed. I spoke with Acme on the phone to set up a time for them to come out, at which time they gave me a quote for changing the lock. When the person arrived to change it (Mike), he was unable to get the lock opened and said it would have to be completely removed and replaced with a new lock (after, we were able to contact another locksmith who came out and successfully unlocked the doorknob). This was going to take the visit up to over $300 if they provided a lock. I consulted with the person I managed the property for and they wanted me to buy a lock instead of the using one Acme offered due to the price and inability to complete the job. When I informed Mike of this, he became very short and irritated, asking how long it was going to take, and was very inflexible. I once again consulted with the property manager, and due to the unprofessionalism of Mike, and how much the cost had gone up from the initial quote, he decided not to continue the service with Acme. The property owner contacted Acme, who were apologetic, stated we would not have to pay for the service, said they were "grateful" that I did not write a review of my experience. Now here we are, 10 months later and this week I receive a call from Acme. They said they were "clearing some files," found my invoice and were going to send it to me. This invoice was a $175 charge for a visit and labor fee. They also charge an additional 3% processing fee for payments after 10 days of the invoice. I was never informed of a trip fee that would be charged prior to the visit, or that it was expected to be cash on delivery of service. This is something I assumed would have been established when they gave me the quote. I can adamantly say I do not recommend Acme for locksmith services. The inflexibility of the person who came out to complete the work, the lack of transparency with the charges prior to the visit, and the fact that 10 months later they are now trying to charge me $175 speaks to the lack of integrity within the company.

Went to get lock fixed only to find that this ache at 815 Madison looks like it's permanently…read moreclosed.

This hardware store is packed to the ceiling and every aisle is overflowing with old stock. They…read morestarted 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

Please, please, please do yourself a favor and get to Landwehrs. If you're a fan of the Christmas…read moreStory 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.

I continue to come here over the big box stores simply because of the service. There's always…read moresomeone to greet me, ask me if I need any help, and then once they direct me to where I need to go, they get on the radio to let someone else know that I'm coming. It's really good courtesy and super helpful and the reason why I keep coming back. They have most things that I need and anything that I can't find here, I can usually go elsewhere. But the majority of things that I need are here. So plenty good selection for the most part! I get coupons in the mail so I also get plenty of value as well. Prices always seem to be fair and comparable. I definitely plan to make this my regular store for home needs and goods!

The most dependable Ace store: Yes, they always have what I need, but really they have the most…read morefriendly and reliable customer service at this location. Those employees are like the nice neighbors you wish you had. I drive out of my way to go to this store.