Colin at this location is super helpful! What a neat store and experience. The atmosphere almost feels like a museum as you walk through it. I hope this location and its owners know how much value a knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly employee like Colin adds to customers shopping experience. Not to mention bringing back repeat business! Thanks Colin! read more

I love that this store exists. They've been around Portland for almost 50 years. They are a salvage store specializing in hardware, lighting, and plumbing from 1860 to 1960. Really, I see two use cases for the store: 1. If something breaks in your old house, you can bring it in to show to them and see if they have a replacement. 2. If you have time to kill and want to get lost, you can wander around their giant maze of a store, looking at stuff. I'm not sure the store is organized enough to be useful for large projects. For example, if you wanted to get a full set of cabinet knobs, or multiple windows, you may or may not be able to find matching ones of them all. But if you want one of each to replace your current ones, sure! That said, staff has always been great. They do their best to help and know the store better than anyone. So if you're looking for something specific, it's worth it to ask. You can email in with pictures and they can look around for you. They accept returns for two weeks which is great because sometimes, no matter how many times you measured, what you got doesn't fit. Some of the descriptions on their website that really ring true: "we are mostly just a wacky junk store" "it may take many days to take a good rummage around" "we offer assorted collectibles, trinkets, whatnots, and whoziwhatsits" And be sure to look out for hippos of all kinds distributed through the store! Maybe a fun scavenger hunt for kiddos? read more

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This store is a Portland institution. Recently they made a plea to the public saying they were struggling financially and please support local businesses. I agree and when I needed a small item, this is the first place I went. The woman working was rude and unhelpful, so I left. Upon leaving, I saw racist graffiti on the pillar of their store. Two weeks later, the racist graffiti is still there. It's too bad they choose to leave it. Poor experience overall for sure. * edited to one star: hi again Steve. I removed the previous review because of your reply that named the employee I complained about. I cannot allow her name to be used, it's unethical. My behavior is, as always, honest and completely unproblematic. How about you erase the racist graffiti, or do you not even know Billie Holidays music? read more

For a store which contains many cute antique sinks and toilets I was anticipating quite a interesting bathroom and I was rather underwhelmed due to my high expectations In short it's simply okay. A perfectly serviceable bathroom. All you have to do is ask to use it read more

Hippo Hardware - Hardware Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Hippo has patient, knowledgeable staff ready to help with whatever you're looking for, even if you don't sport green hair or 15 tattoos! They have a great selection of items with prices that reflect the going rates. I've had excellent help looking for hardware and windows. read more

Hippo Hardware - Hardware Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Fun shop to walk through. We were from out of town and it was definitely different. I would of bought a chandelier if I wasn't taking a plane read more

Amazing place. The chandeliers impressed me!! Love this place so much. I still laugh over jackass using their toilet.

I can't believe I've never been here before today! Best selection of vintage hardware in Portland. This place is huge, and full of the weird and wonderful. read more

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I just popped in for a far too quick search for a couple of cool old doorknobs for a project my husband is working on. The selection was incredible and I should have planned at least an hour to look around but my calendar would not allow for it. So many unique and reclaimed objects of interest. I will definitely schedule an afternoon with plenty of time to go dream up a new project so we can go there and make it truly special. The folks I spoke with also knew their stuff about their treasures so that made for an even more enjoyable experience. read more

I went in this store for the first time in my life on 5/22/2025. I thought they had a good inventory of quality architectural salvage, but there were no prices on anything. I saw a Victorian ceiling light i liked, and the salesman quoted me $250, and I decided to take it. The salesman said he wanted to have it tested before he sold it to me, and took it into the back room. He came back and said " I'm sorry, but I've been told I undervalued it, it's actually $500". I spoke to the manager but he was unwilling tp budge. Rather than create a seen I am giving this honest account. I believe this practice is called bait and switch, and is illegal, so beware. read more

Exasperated looking for a 3 1/2" canopy to cover a junction box, I stopped by Hippo today hoping for a miracle. There weren't any miracles, but there was a terrific team of professionals working in the lamp department! The gentleman of the team worked with me to find a possible part we could repurpose into what I needed. The level of customer service and commitment to figuring out a solution was very impressive! A simple part was reworked and soaked in a patina solution to fit my needs. Hurray for the top level customer support! And the piece was very affordable, to boot! Thank you, Hippo, for hiring the BEST! read more

I do love many aspects of Hippo Hardware, it's eclectic and interesting and has so much cool stuff! however I'd like to warn people to not trust the repair shop to give you a fair price! they won't give you a bid for your repair, instead you give them $20 towards the final cost. I brought in a lamp whose switch had broken off. I guess I assumed this was a fairly small job. well the final cost was $58.00, more than the cost of the lamp! plus the repair guy Dan was rude to me and also rude to his co worker. i witnessed this rudeness both times that I came in, dropping off the lamp and picking it up. just bad vibes! His coworker is an older woman who was lovely, i hated seeing her treated that way. I guess losing my business probably isn't a big deal to them but I thought I'd warn folks! read more

I took two sets of pocket door mortises in for repair at Hippo Hardware. Both sets were in a bad state. The result of 100 years of neglect and paint, and the handle mechanisms were jammed. Very lucky that they're nearby, as they're the only place in the area that does mortise lock repair. Colin from Hippo Hardware discussed my repair with me in detail, talked over options, and gave me a heads up about what it would cost. He even found a matching mortise to replace a piece that was broken. Both sets are working beautifully now thanks to the extremely helpful staff and stock at Hippo! read more

Hippo Hardware - Pocket door mortise that I took to Hippo Hardware for repair. The whole set was in a bad state. Now works great thanks to Colin! - Hardware Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It's been awhile since I went to Hippo but it's still one of the most interesting places to roam around. An amazing stash of routine items like cabinet hardware but also filled with random bits and pieces of things that you won't find anywhere else. So - doing reuse before it got trendy, and it's clearly the place for chandeliers - just look up. Bathtubs, sinks, curtain hardware, you need it, chances are they have it. And, unlike some of the snooty places around town, they actually have people who work there and are delighted to help you- with considerable less "attitude" and they actually know what you need. Delightful! read more

Absolutely love this establishment! It's a Mecca for vintage chandeliers, parts & hardware. I purchased a pair of vintage chinoiserie lamps at an estate sale but one was missing a "crown". I went to a local lamp shop but their prices are exorbitant. After fretting for weeks I recalled in the middle of night that I had once been to Hippo Hardware & had purchase a vintage chandelier about 25 years past. I drove into Portland with high hopes in locating this part. There is only street parking, so parking was a bit of a struggle. I took the part I needed as I approached the front desk & the associate greeted me, was very knowledgeable of what the part was & directed to the directions of parts. Several floors up where I had purchased my vintage chandelier many years ago. On that floor they also have a help desk & gave the associate the part I needed to match. After several minutes he came back with 2 but these were 1/16 larger than what I had. He mentioned if I didn't like it after assembling the lamp I could return the parts. No problem! I was happy with my purchase now that my lamps are matching & have symmetry. So.. if you're missing parts for lamps, chandeliers this is your one stop shop. They also carry many other vintage parts for doors, cabinets. Their staff is friendly & very knowledgeable. read more

If you have an older house and you need to match something this is your place. What I love is that if you find an old lamp or chandelier that you like they will rewire it there in shop so it's nice and safe for you. unlike what happens if you pick it up at a flea market Etc. They take recycling to a whole new level :) read more

Terrific service and availability' of hard to find parts. Lucky to have them in Portland read more

Hippo is probably the place I miss most when I'm out of town. I know, "why would you miss a hardware store?" - but when I'm visiting relatives and trying to help out with a project in the house I grew up in, my first inclination is "Hippo will have that (insert name of old house part)". Then, I remember that a big box store is pretty much my only option in that particular time zone. So, thank you to Hippo for being my go-to spot for whatever thing I need to keep my old house creaking along. read more

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Extensive options if you're seeking obscure hardware. A bit pricey and felt like a great place to explore 1980s to earlier Era hardware options and replacements. read more

Hippo Hardware - Outside - Hardware Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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For 40 years, my company has been renovating and restoring historic homes. For 30 of those years, Hippo Hardware was a major supplier for my projects. Many, many things have been restored and repurposed in our restorations. However, routine things, like lighting, plumbing, and heating fixtures are now double the price of ebay. Don't even think of lumber... Twenty years ago, the place had a hippy, laid-back vibe. Now, it is about top dollar, and maximizing profit. Example: https://www.hippohardware.com/products/deco-copper-streamline-door-knobs-and-plates-set read more

Was able to find old bathroom fixtures I have been looking for. Over the past two years have been to many hardware stores with no luck. Great store for many items. read more

The most amazing collection of antique lights, door knobs, locks and metal wing dings. Things are really cool but everything is outrageously expensive. read more

Hippo Hardware - So much stuff! - Hardware Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Old house (1925). Old interior door locks. Something happens and a dead bolt pops out of the bathroom door and won't go back in. Whathefahhhhk!?!? It didn't take long to find Hippo Hardware and it didn't take long for the guy there to tell me that one of three of skeleton keys that he sold would probably work. "Try this one ($7), if it doesn't work bring it back and we'll try the next one." As I got home, I mention this to my neighbor who interrupts me and says, "Hippo Hardware, right?, I bought all three when I moved in!" Always the last to know!! read more

Fun funky fixtures for fabulous houses & all the gorgeous old things you want to look at daily and be in love. Multiple floors - some stand out special pieces and some need to have bits and bobs. The swan fixture in the restroom is and has been in my idea book for years. It's worth a walk around for admiring looks even if you don't have a list of shopping must gets. The staff was super nice and suggested a few other fun things to do in the area. 10/10 would return. read more

Hippo Hardware - Hardware Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Good place. When 2 other businesses recommend this place for something you need and they dont have, then you know there's a good chance. Right when you walk in, this gigantic, 30,000 square foot place, puts you at ease even though there must be 'tens of thousands' of parts. Of course I needed help installing a heavy heavy dining room ceiling fixture in our 100+ year old house. And this is where Hippo Hardware shines; this type of situation is right in its proverbial wheelhouse. When my friend and I went upstairs to describe what we needed, what our challenge was, showed a couple pictures, and brought the pieces to help explain our challenge, the man was an incredible help. He took our pieces back to the shop, loosened up a couple things here and there making it easier for us to overcome the challenge, and then said; 'here are 3 pieces which will help you....I'll charge you $2.00' His knowledge and labor alone was far more than $2.00! This is my guess and hope; if you have an older house, then you should open an account at this store because if this place doesnt have it, then you're S.O.L. Give it a try. read more

I had so much fun exploring every nook and cranny of this store. A friend of mine told me that I just had to visit Hippo Hardware on my trip to the northwest. I wasn't even looking for anything but ended up picking up a couple of cute little things for the house. Now that I have their website address I'm tempted to make some upgrades! Very cool place to lose an afternoon. read more

They re-wired two lights for me! There are treasures, treasures, treasures all over this place.

This place is a Portland institution. It has the most amazing stuff inside! I used to live nearby and I loved stopping in to check out the amazing antique fixtures and lights. They truly have everything. It's so worth your time to stop in. read more

I've been going to Hippo for years, but it's been a while. I went in to get a lamp nipple because they have everything. The nipple and nuts cost $3 which was more than fair. Took it down to pay. I was told that they didn't take cards for anything less than $5, but they would be happy to sell me a $3 sticker or some other thingie to get the bill up to $5. "I don't mean to upsell," I was told. Having no cash (who does these days?), I offered to pay the CC fee. Nope. Besides, the policy is posted- it's not. I had to go out to the car to get change out of my center console. Really? If only I had 300 pennies. read more

I love Hippo Hardware! I've found wonderful period light fixtures and they wired them to our custom specs. Their staff is knowledgeable, helpful and committed to their craft. read more

Hippo Hardware - Hardware Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My taste has always exceeded my budget, plus I don't want ordinary, love unusual with style. Hippo Hardware is magic sprinkles for my home. Get that cool handle for your door or kitchen and you enjoy it every day, what a great deal! Lighting is another keeper, see it, enjoy it, friends always ask- where did you find that?!? I've been a happy customer for a zillion years! read more

Hippo Hardware is remarKabyle. We arpriced needing a spring to the front door of our 1919 Craftsman home. The employee who greeted us pulled out a box of springs and replaced our broken spring while we shopped. Brilliant staff. The store itself beats with historic hardware, and stirred my creative juices for what we could bring home. Spend a few hours at Hippo Hardware and you come away inspired by the idea of recycling, rejuvenating and upgrading your surroundings. read more

I love this place. It's my go to for all the odds and ends I need to fix my 1916 craftsman bungalow. Colin is incredible with all the vintage locks and doorknobs I have brought him to get back into working order and even get new skeleton keys for! I can't say enough about this place! Prices are great too! So if you need something a little off kilter to finish out the perfect room, you'll find it here! read more

Super friendly staf and soooo helpful. Totally the best group of men and women ready to bend over backwards to help you. The owner sat and spent so much time talking with me, telling stories exchanging life advice- it was so great. And it's LOADED with all things vintage and all that you would need for any restoration project. And of course- they will guide you and teach you tips and tricks to DIY. Love Hippo Hardware! read more

Hippo hardware needs no introduction. This is the first stop for anyone's period-correct home needs. Their prices are reasonable and almost everything is original (none of re-popped junk [or attitude] you find at Rejuvenation). The entire staff is helpful and the owner always has a zinger ready to pull out of his back pocket. This place is the real McCoy - the last of the originals. read more

Hippo Hardware is a Portland treasure good for hours of entertainment. When I was a child I was fascinated by the Midwest's demolition company yards. These companies were responsible for tearing down old buildings built from the early 1800's on. Perhaps they were in the wrong place for progress, or hadn't been maintained, or were in the way of urban renewal. Those yards were filled with salvaged brick, sheets of marble, iron bathtubs, crafted doors, window weights, huge timbers, iron stoves, commodes, slate shingles, sinks, plumbing pipes, electrical gear, city lightposts, parts of bridges, cobblestones. Housed under acres of shed roofs. I later became very interested in construction and carpentry, and am a pretty handy amateur remodeler, go figure. And though my design sense runs to modern and minimal, I still have a romance with vintage homes and house parts. They are built to last and prove it. Hippo Hardware is home to a curated collection of that and more. The basement is least sorted and most treacherous. Don't wear good clothes that could snag. It's a labyrinth suitable for a film set, or a hobbit den packed with findings and treasures. The main floor is home to old hinges, door nobs, brass window thingies, all kinds of plumbing fixtures. It's a labyrinth, with multiple levels. They have the most awesome collection of door knockers, some pretty ironic. The upper floor is for lighting. I had a project to build my own wood floor lamp. The tinkerer shopkeepers helped me out with the iron baseplate, steel tube, ceramic mogul socket, and glass shade with a mix of old and new parts that form the innards of a beautiful wood lamp. They have thousands of vintage lamp parts and the knowledge to work with you to combine them into just about anything you could imagine. They really enjoy the challenge of helping with your creative lighting problem. If you have a vintage lamp needing repairs or parts, this is the best place in Portland. Many very hip bars, retail spots and restaurants have sourced their lighting, especially chandeliers or multiple fixtures of the same design, from Hippo, and when those places die, the fixtures will surely be reincarnated at Hippo. The basement is a menace of moulding and doors, fireplace parts and mantels, cabinets. There are lofty 5 foot ceilings and low pipes and beams making parts of the maze marked by signs: employees only. Something to think about, they moved the store a few years ago from another building and adjacent house. It was even more chaotic then, with old band uniforms filling bathtubs. So this is the neater, more organized version! Hippo has never been known for bargains. It's a favorite spot for film crews and high end restorers of turn of the century Queen Anne's, Craftsman's, Victorian's and Italianates. But if you are an artist, don't be afraid to bargain, but realize you are probably bargaining with someone with 50 years more than you experience bargaining. Scattered throughout are charming and weird objects, representing the humor and curiosities of the staff. That is fascinating in itself. The place will never be wheel chair accessible, and would be a mistake for someone on crutches. Don't bring small children that need to touch everything, run or climb. Some, of course not all, women may find Hippo Hardware boring to tears, too weird, or simply uninteresting. Send them across the street to Lille Boutique, http://www.yelp.com/biz/lille-boutique-portland, which forms a pair review with Portland's most unique hardware store. read more

We're still in the early planning stages of home design, so I was utterly overwhelmed by Hippo Hardware. The place is labyrinthine and stuffed with an overwhelming array of vintage fixtures, doors, windows, lights, drawer pulls, hinges, faucets, tubs, sinks... The only thing the place lacks is a bar where innocent spouses like myself who are abandoned at the store's entrance by very excited husbands and fathers-in-law can grab a stiff drink before disappearing down the rabbit hole. If you're starting a remodel and need ideas, or if you know exactly what you're looking for, this is THE place to start. For those of us who are just browsing, (you can identify us by the glazed look in our eyes and the fact that we might accidentally walk into a wall at some point) the staff is infinitely knowledgable, helpful, funny, friendly, and perfectly geeky in all the right subject areas. You want The Perfect Fixture? Ask the fixture guy. You want a certain sized door with a peculiar frame? Ask the peculiar frame guy. Seriously, each department is manned by an encyclopedic staffer whose enthusiasm for his or her job speaks volumes about this establishment. Bring your measurements, a tape measure, a camera, a notebook, a snack, and some bread crumbs so you can find your way out when the staff shuts the place down at 5 pm. read more

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Their customer service has gone aggressively downhill. After a horrible experience with Robert in the hardware department (including being blatantly hung up on after they told me they never submitted the special order I had paid for in full), I finally got a call that the handles were there to pick up. Then Robert DENIED I had paid it in full even though it said "Paid in full" on my receipt. They treat women like crap and I'm not coming back. read more

I love the selection and I hate the prices. If there is a piece of architectural hardware you are looking for they probably have it or a replica of it. Will it cost you? Oh hell yes it will. It's a good place for inspiration, to find a very specific thing but if you don't know how to comparison shop or you get overwhelmed easily this is not the place for you. For example I found a pair of shelve bracket at a salvage place that were 2 for $8. They were iron with a nice patina. I need two pairs so I went to hippo. The good things was they had both originals like the ones I got as well replicas. At hippo the originals in the same size were priced from $30-$50. Even buying replicas it was $16 for just one. I did end up getting them because I wanted to finish the project but I could have gone to other reuse stores and found them for less. The other thing that is nice here is that the people really know their stuff so if you do have questions you can get good answers and help with your project and that's worth a few extra dollars right there. read more

I never thought I'd review a hardware store on Yelp, but here I am. While visiting Portland, I decided to check out Hippo Hardware. Upon walking in, the female co-owner looked at my girlfriend and I and said, "You two aren't allowed here." There was a moment of awkward silence before she exclaimed, "FOR BEING SO CUTE." Then, she transformed into a jovial, lovable older women who introduced us to the scores of rows of handles, knobs, knockers, and every possible piece of hardware you could imagine. Later in our trip, the male co-owner approached me and started going on about how "he was the kid at the end of the block my parents wouldn't let me play with," and that he would refund me for anything, even if I lived across the country. I don't know if I've ever met a business owner more accommodating. Aside from the owners, this place is a DIYers dream. You want a quirky old door? They have it. Reclaimed wood? Check. Vintage handles for your Victorian remodel? Check. A lamp that looks like something from 1947 with a touch of eccentricity? DOUBLE CHECK. I ended up buying a vintage Coca Cola wall-mounted bottle opener. If you go here, get ready for a vintage party. And..uh...don't do anything I wouldn't do. read more

Hippo Hardware - THE LAMPS - Hardware Stores Near Me - Portland, Oregon