My favourite hardware store. Friendly, helpful and happy staff and management. I found my plumber…read morethrough shopping at this store.

Once again I ask myself why I shop there. I just read other reviews (from within the last month)…read moreand the sentiments are the same. People are rude, arrogant and generally unhelpful. This time the woman at the cash register was badmouthing (loudly) about the last customer because she had asked about her bad cough. The employee said that the woman should mind her own ****ing business. Then the new young man, Chris, was rude to me as he helped me carry things out. It never changes. None of the employees ever seem happy working there, never act like they want to help or care. I try to shop local; this doesn't work with Pastime.

Looking for an Estwing rock pidk. They had one on the wall, and reasonably priced, so I bought it…read more Called ahead, and they said they had two different ones. Sure enough. They come through with reasonably affordable tools with no mysterious bosses hovering near the checkout lines as in Pastime.

Really helpful employees here, as opposed to Pastime on San Pablo…read more You get the feeling that they enjoy working there, whereas at pastime, everyone seems pretty miserable. Even though I live really close to that store, I go out of my way to go up to Kensington. The store is smaller and they may have less stuff, but I've always found what I needed. Worth the trip.

This shop has everything you need and more. I have completed home remodels and a ton of…read morelandscaping projects and they never disappoint. It is a lot bigger than it seems. They have excellent customer service and I would rather support a mom and pop shop any day over a big box chain. Thank you for being in our community!

There are hardware stores... and then there is Oliver's Hardware…read more From the moment you walk in, you don't feel like a customer--you feel like you belong. It's the kind of place where people know your name, remember what you came in for last time, and genuinely care about helping you get it right. Garth is a rare gem. Kind, deeply knowledgeable, and patient in a way that feels almost old-fashioned. He doesn't just "work there"--he treats every interaction as if this were his own business. You can tell he takes pride in making sure you leave confident, not confused. In a world of rushed service and indifference, Garth stands out as someone who truly respects people. And then there's Alice--an absolute force of warmth and personality. Friendly, engaging, and effortlessly entertaining, she has that rare gift of making people open up and feel seen. There's something magnetic about her presence. Don't be surprised if one day you see her hosting her own show--she has that unmistakable "Oprah of the town" energy. People don't just come in for hardware... they come in for Alice. Oliver's Hardware is not just a store--it's an experience. It's community. It's human connection at its best. If you're tired of being treated like a transaction, go there. You'll understand immediately why it's so special.

Whale Point--part chandlery, part hardware store--remains a rare gem. Their selection of boat gear,…read morehousewares, and hardware is incredibly broad, and the staff consistently know their stuff. With so few truly great independent hardware stores left, this one stands out for both its expertise and its character. Highly recommend stopping by, even if you don't think you need anything yet.

This is a wonderful hardware store with service that is absolutely exceptional! Chances are,…read morethey'll have what you want, and they'll take the time to really talk over any problems you are having (so unusual!) My latest dealings have been with Steve, who is a "jewel" to find and work with (that term is used by other businesses around here - for the Whale Piont ACE generally, the owner, and all employees. I really recommend it as a wonderful alternative to the other ACE nearby, not to mention Home Depot and others.

Ace is the helpful place! A hardware store that's actually fun to go to. Downtown Berkeley lost the…read moredollar store but has Target but not many craft stores. It was nice to grab odds and ends for an art project, volunteer activity and church, etc. The kitchen supplies are plentiful and they always carry decent cleaning supplies. I've bought everything from batteries, card games, handkerchiefs, and toy. The hot sauce shaped like a grenade was delicious. I tried the original spicy flavor. Nice treats and candy at the checkout. Grab some!

Large store and friendly staff. They have large collection of everyday household items in the…read moredowntown area.

Kai is the sweetest, nicest, most reliable, and truly professional person to work with! She told me…read moreshe'd contact me when they received a new shipment of NeeDohs, and she followed through exactly as promised -- reaching out the very day it arrived. Her communication was clear, timely, thoughtful, and consistently professional. Thank you, Kai -- you're the best!

Love this location. They of course have everything you need for household items (I'm not sure why I…read moredidn't think to get things like dish soap and sponges here instead of Target until more recently). They also have great gifts and other odds and ends that are fun to look at. Very helpful staff and of course fantastic location. Support your local hardware store, this is a great one!

I always appreciate this ACE Hardware. They have everything you need for gardening, paint and yard…read morethings. Whenever I visit, there is always someone available to help me with whatever I need. Thank you

The entire staff are very friendly & helpful over the years & much appreciated! When ever I have a…read morehome project they always have the knowledge & tools that I need! I think the prices are adequate & love the gardening selection & great BBQ section!

I arrived in the Bay Area a little early for my 1 PM dental appointment. That meant that I had…read moretime for an order of scones and light bake pizza at Arizmendi (Emeryville), filling up the Forester with gas (for the trip home), and another visit to Hida tool. All of this (including the dentist) was possible via a relative straight shot down San Pablo Avenue. There was even a parking space available in front of Hida Tool with time left on the meter! As I've mentioned before, among the high quality and specialty gardening, woodworking, and other tools, I have little idea what I might be buying. It's all well displayed, attractive, and begging me to figure out how I might be able to use them. The shop is basically 2 small aisles, which found me going round and round as I noticed something new each time. This time around, I purchased this and that including a fruit knife for Gayle, a small blade for me, a cute (and small) decorative metal bell, a cool pair of scissors (which you can never have enough of around the house), and a 2024 Hida Tools wall calendar, that I really didn't need. I've been coming to this family business for maybe 30 years, and there's always something interesting and useful that will catch my eye. I'm already looking forward to the next time.

A friendly and well stocked source of high quality tools, mostly from Japan with many other items…read morethat are useful. They stock many hard-to-find items and also provide ideas and inspiration for projects based on what is on their shelves. I no longer live in Berkeley, but it's a must-visit spot every time I'm in town! Not inexpensive, but well worth the cost for a well curated selection of quality items.

Went in today and they were closed an hour early. Seems strange to me - I don't understand it…read more Usually they close at 8pm on a Sunday but today they closed at 7pm. I've been to this location many times. Usually a good experience. Bought a couple fruit trees from this exact locations 10 years ago and think about this store every time I eat fruit from them. They are already large and I feel like they turn a house into a home. A place you really enjoy much more. I am big into landscaping. I like mature, beautiful landscape. Kitchens and paint I'm less into - I feel like these things no matter what they are within 5 or 10 years they are old, outdated and in need of redoing. The same can't be said about trees - they only get better and more valuable with age. Had a realtor once tell me that a 5 or 10 year old kitchen is just as bad as a 50 year old kitchen. Neither sells - and with trends ever changing - I wouldn't get too hung up with it. I know some friends that put so much effort into what paint on their walls looks like or what brand cabinets they have. Then they want the CHEAPEST car possible to put their wife and kids in. I just don't get it. Was a bummer today. I saw the Christmas tree lot here all closed and some of the trees inside I wanted to take a closer look at. The variety of Christmas trees here was very nice.

Security came out and greeted me! Saying I can't loiter there! Rude! Give me a chance to get out my…read moref in car sir! Security need a lesson in manners. And as I was saying I'm going in! He stays looking at me playing on his cell! Are you securing or playing! Now I'm already heated bc as I turn to park! A rude man insist on paring the opposite way. And won't move up so I can park first! Now mind you it is on n a million spots! I say to self this must be April Fools! And I know he went and told the guard! Yet I didn't leave a HORRIFIC NOTE ON HIS CAR! So yeah my morning not so good so far! I'm walking around Home Depot remembering my son! So nostalgic! He worked for many of them until he passed! So many different cities! I miss you son! I will read my Bible and go enjoy the day! That the Lord blessed me to see! Amen. Three stars bc the guard standing over my car! However Home Deit is always clean and full of everything nice! Oh shucks just went down to two stars! Employees in the way chatting won't move! Rude! Let's not get down to one!

Cmon... what's not to like? These folks "held our hand" patiently explaining the right dimensions…read moreneeded for our DIY boat sundeck window replacements. We went back and forth stopping by to ask tons of questions before taking the leap to purchase polycarbonate sheets. We only got a few at a time (in case we were in more over our head than we knew ;) But it all worked out. They even started smiling when we'd come by with a knowing "Oh, its them" look... but in a good way ha. They know what they're doing. Highly recommend.

Recommend this location for all your plastic needs. Everyone here is super nice. Will, Harold, and…read moreSophia have been awesome with helping me with various home improvement projects. Thank you!