I think there may have been a change in management / ownership recently and it's for the BETTER!! Great staff, friendly and helpful!!

Quickly helped in making copies of my house key. Staff was helpful and me efficient. Store has an eclectic mix of products for sale. Fair prices. And of course I always enjoy supporting locals as often as I can! read more

I've wasted so much time trying to get keys copied here that I've finally decided to let others know. Just recently I lost an hour of my life (again) having standard keys copied that didn't work when I got home. It's infuriating that this has gone on for as many years as it has. Additionally, the store has changed hands at least once in the last 10 years, and I've seen both the selection and service deteriorate. From now on I'm heading to Inman Hardware. They have an awesome selection, very knowledgeable staff, and so far the keys I've had made there work great. read more

Great place to copy your keys. I had three keys copied and all of them worked like the originals. Much better and cheaper than KeyMe.

One star, based on several bad customer service experiences. Staffers (always changing) are mixed, some nice, some knowledgable, some surly, some who no nothing about hardware, period. The store is always out of basic stuff too, and if you call ahead to make sure that an item is in stock, you'll usually get told "yes" when it isn't. Went in the other day to get a wood sealant, found it, no price: Me: (to a staff person coming out of a back room right next to me) "Hello!" Him, looking at me with a glare and sounding annoyed: "Ya want sumthin'?" Me: Thinking to myself, "No, ya big palooka, I'm just being friendly...) Me: Answering him: "Um, could you please tell me the price for this, I got it from here...." (pointed to shelf to show him there was no shelf tag) Him, sounding annoyed, "I can see where ya got it!" He did give me the price and I went to the registers. The one woman working there was busy with another customer. As I waited, Mr. Annoyed came to the other register. I thought he was going to wait on me but he said nothing, just took something out of it, and went back to the back room. The woman at the register who eventually waited on me was a nice as could be. Really tired of going to Pill, not finding what I need, or finding it at a price that's much higher than what it is online, or having to deal with staff people who are surly in response to my being friendly and polite. Guess the good reviews for Pill found here came from folks who went in on days that Mr. Leave-Me-Alone-You-Stupid-Customer wasn't working. read more

A great local hardware store with excellent staff, who are helpful and never too pushy. I love their paint selection and the prices are great. Will is always helpful and very proactive in helping. read more

If you need a good hammer or screwdriver this is the place to buy one. They also have a wide selection of nuts and bolts and other metal fasteners in many different sizes. read more

Incredibly overpriced and very rude staff. ACE recommended me here online for a $6.99 battery that I was charged $16.99 for. When I pointed the error out to the clerk he rolled his eyes at me and told me to just buy it online then. Just go to the ACE store down the street in Inman! read more

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Drove by Pills "open" parked, walked/ran to the door sign reads "closed" as the 7 o'clock bells chime/chimed/'chummed'. Eye contact and sad pout face with a gesture of shrugging shoulders. Door unlocked. We're in! This is how a business should be run. The employee who works on thurs. evenings should get a raise. I should've asked him his name. That is why you shop locally (If this didn't happen I would be stuck at Home Depot). This is how it should go. One pipe like fixture and a pack of resee's peanut butter cups and on our way! I have also bought paint here in the past. They carry Benjamin Moore. If I could I would shop here every day. read more

Two years later and this place still kicks ass. I go in there every two months or so and the employees remember me. They go out of their way to help me with my home improvement projects and ask how my spouse is doing. They remember that I own rabbits. It's a bit of Main Street in the midst of Central Square. read more

I have never written a review on Yelp and had to for Pill Hardware because my experience with Aldo and the employees was 110%!! I came into the store completely frazzled because Wayfair failed to deliver my bed with any hardware. Aldo was a complete gem and spent over an hour helping my situation and went out of his way to find a friend last minute to assemble my bed for me. I couldn't recommend Pill Hardware enough. It was a true over the top customer experience. Thank you to Aldo and to the rest of the Pill Hardware team! read more

i went to four stores before coming here, and no where had anything i needed, meanwhile pill hardware had everything all in one spot

The customer service at Pills is very good. Not only do the men who work there help me find what I am looking for, but they usually ask what I need it for and they help me think about my project from different angles to make sure I'm approaching it in the best way. They take the time to really help me, instead of just answering a quick question and running off. My sense is that sometimes there is a little bit of flirting going on. But that's okay. They almost always have the items I need there. The prices seem competitive with what's around.....if you leave out the big Home Depot and Lowe's type places. Pills is a good feeling handy place. :) read more

So this place is our neighborhood go-to despite having limited hours for us working folk. While some staff have been helpful and the stock is well organized, clean, I would say it's a 50/50 chance of you getting a young kid who doesn't care about your home improvement needs. Anecdotal evidence: my partner and I needed to install blinds in our new apartment so rather than buying a drill on Amazon, we went to support a local business. We asked for help on screws, drills for about 10-15 minutes before making our purchase (it was clear we were novices and needing some guidance). Left the store, got home, realized we had no drill bits. Bush league move, yes, but kid working the cash register (with zero customers around, close to closing time), give us a heads up at 6.30pm on a Friday night! Needless to say, we got home realized we didn't have what we needed, only to call and the kid to respond curtly they would close in less than ten minutes. Blinding sunlight one more morning in our apartment, it is then. I don't know if it's luck or location, but hardware stores in other parts of the country will hold your hand to make sure you get everything you need (see: Frager's in DC). It's a great selection with nice enough people, but it would be helpful if they went the extra mile every now and then. read more

I live in hardware stores and Pill Hardware is top of the line. Helpful to the nth degree. Call them on the phone and they'll immediately check they're shelves and tell you if they have a specific part or tool. Then they will put it aside at the register and when you come it actually have it waiting for you. Save you a trip to the shelf so you're in and out in a flash. Aldo, the manager has done cart-wheels to help me more then once. He is an extremely pleasant and likable fellow. Yeah, another thing is all the guys and woman in there seem to remember you even if you haven't been there for ages. Pill on Mass Ave is far superior to the only other nearby choice way at the other end of Mass Ave. read more

I went to Pills Hardward in Central Sq for the first time today even though I've lived in Cambridge for years. (I usually go to Home Depot.) They had absolutely everything! and everything I needed -- bungie chords, spackle and kitchen garbage bins with foot pedals! I'm impressed with how much stuff they fit in that little store, including paint and every type of hardward imagineable. Friendly staff too. Long live Pill! read more

You better believe it took these great Yelp reviews to get my @ss over to Pills Hardware. Hardware stores make me really nervous.. I always feel like I need to know a thing or two about the stuff I want to buy before stepping through the door. Otherwise, I have this fear that I will be critically judged and stared down by old men who bad English... As a result, I often find myself at Economy Hardware (which is NOT a very economic store...) This time I had a reason for a visit to the hardware store: I needed something to repair some broken grout between my bathroom tiles. I spoke to someone at the cashier desk who wanted to help, but didn't seem to know what I was looking for, so he directed me to another guy (g0d, I wish I remembered his name). Kind of a younger man with an accent, but very friendly (smiles when being spoken to) and not a pushover (talked through EVERY option available to me). The best feature of this guy was that he immediately stated: 'Now what can we get for you that's the most effective and cheapest.' Talk about service! I left with a bottle of ready-mixed grout in a handy squeeze bottle, complete with a watertight sealant for $7. He did such a great job at diagnosing my issue and providing a suggestion! Despite my super pleasant experience at Pills, I still need to fix my bathroom floor.... read more

It's a funny little feeling, having warmth toward a hardware store. That's Pill, though -- the employees there are super-friendly, and they have enough there to help you through just about all of your standard projects etc. I agree with the sentiment that Pill is everything a "local business" could be: you could go to Ace, or TrueValue, or Home Depot, but really... why support those guys? You don't have to stock 80,000 cans of primer to properly serve your community. Pill prices their wares competitively, treats you like an actual person, and will generally have what you need. If you're in or around Central Square, this is your hardware store. read more

I usually come here for the convenience and to support the local business. The people who work there are friendly and helpful. They might not all be able to tell you how to do your home remodeling project in detail, but they can direct you around the shop, which is all I need. The have a little of all the basics for around the house & yard jobs. If you need something really niche, you might want to visit one of the large chains. But I like this place for emergency fixes, nuts/bolts, cleaning supplies, copies of keys, etc. Like any smaller business they're fighting to stay alive and relevant in the city, so I'm all for providing them with business. I even went in today and after making my purchase they gave me a free energy saving light bulb, score! For any hardware odds and ends you might need. Pill Hardware is a convenient and great place to find that thing that isn't in your garage that you need right now. read more

Don't know if the free green lightbulb still stands, but everything else I've said still holds true.

Excellent service on the phone and in person. Nice young educated workers who actually make an effort to help, they know their stuff. Other companies should follow their example. Thanks read more

I am a big fan of local hardware stores, first off. Upon moving to the area, I was very excited to discover Pill (makes redoing a room much easier). I wouldn't call the staff veterans of home improvement, so if you have an in depth process question you should probably figure that out ahead of time, yet they do know where everything is and what to use it for. Everything I've needed, they've had. Fantastic selection, and I'm a big DIY-er. Also free lightbulb with your purchase on the weekend. That's whats up. read more

I stepped into Pill Hardware with a particular need and not a lot of knowledge. Thankfully the staff was great - able to answer my questions and point me toward the best choice. There was no upsell involved - just pure functionality. It's nice to be assisted by staff that prioritizes service over a quick profit. While not as well stocked as some giant box store, this place has what you need and won't break your wallet. The next time I'm in the area and in need of some hardware, this will be my first stop. read more

One of the nicest experiences I've had in a hardware store. The guy in the front asked me what I was looking for as soon as I walked in, whereas I usually waste time scouring the whole store for what I need. I will definitely be back! read more

I came here the other day to buy light bulbs, Greenlite light bulbs are on sale for a dollar each! Plus on top that, they were also buy one get one free! Eco-friendly light bulbs for really cheap. heck yes!!! This is my favorite local hardware store. The people who work there are very friendly and helpful. read more

Support locally-owned businesses, whenever you can. That's my way. And it should be yours too. It helps that their prices are reasonable, the guys are helpful, and they have most everything a city dweller needs. Pick up a cup of caffeine next door at 1369 and you're all set! read more

I'm tending to steer away from the ginourmous Home Depot's & Lowe's in lieu of these guys. They're competitive pricing & very helpful. Best of all, you don't need to walk 1/2 a mile to find a f'ing lightbulb! read more

Considering what a small store it is I am amazed they always seem to have what I need. They have been very helpful as I slowly bring my home fix-up skills from novice to rank amateur level. I am on my way there to buy a fresh 3/8" nap paint roller cover, because last time I went I was schooled that the 3/8" nap is the best all purpose pick. read more

I needed an oven thermometer. A friend told me I would have to go to a fancy-ass cooking store to get one, but on my way from 1369 this morning I stopped into Pills. I hadn't had more than a sip of coffee yet so I was wildly inarticulate. The guy working the counter directed me where to go without treating me like the idiot I sounded like. Then when I went to pay the other clerk at the cash register said, "do you like chocolate?" Out comes a tray of some kind of classy dark chocolates--the kind I would have had to pay $20 for at the kitchen store. He offered me one. Chocolate and hardware? This is a place a girl could love. read more

Great place with a useful selection of hardware. I used the in-store key maker and I was in and out within a few minutes.

They have everything! Such a little place, yet everything is there, and it's organized and clean and just such a godsend to have in my neighborhood. Don't pass it by, give it a try, you won't be disappointed. Excellence all around, from products to service and everything in between. read more

Walked into this place on a whim to see if they had a candy thermometer and was delightfully surprised by the consistently friendly service. I also learned while I was there that they have the cheapest prices on Benjamin Moore paint in town. I'll definitely be returning to the store! read more

Reliable place for city life needs. Anything you might just need to run and get, plunger, duct tape, some screws, or paint. They are open long hours too so sneaking in before or after my job isn't hard. Only thing that's a drag is on occasion you find large mark ups on things like a plank of wood, simply due to there not being a home depo or a lumber yard anywhere near by. So shop smart. But over all I do like this place. read more

The Good: Good selection. Convenient location. The bad: The staff is clearly bothered by customers and are often very brief when helping them. I don't understand why so many say they're friendly. The ugly: A very sneaky return policy. At the front of the store, the sign say "Returns only accepted within 30 days AND with receipt". On ONE of the windows in the tools section, it says the same thing but with some added text on some items there no returns. This detail was not mention when I checked out, and I had not seen the sign, so when I tried to EXCHANGE one of these items because I had accidentally purchased the wrong one, I was denied. I can understand no returns, but why can't you exchange it? The store doesn't lose on the exchange - you still gave them business. All I know is I'm not going to buy the item I wanted to exchange for in this store. In the end Its probably not a 1 star, but I know I look at the 5's and the 1's when reading reviews, so I want people to just be aware of the sneaky return policy. If you're okay with that, its probably okay to go here because its convenient and has a large selection. read more

Pill also helps out with cake emergencies--tonight it had a 9-inch springform pan for Obama cake-making!

My go-to consistent cleaning, painting, and hardware supplier and favorite independent biz.

Free paint outside during the summer brought us in. A typical neighborhood hardware store that has been around for years. I walked in an felt like Tony Manero would appear. This place saved me a driving trip to the Depot. I needed an old fashioned Jimmy Proof deadbolt lock and they had it in stock. The have a variety of plumbing components for old houses. They also have lots of tools for small house projects. read more

Handy convenient spot. Not the cheapest place for school furniture tho.

Friendly and helpful staff, with a convenient location right in the center of Cambridge and very close to the Central Square MBTA stop, Pill Hardware is a refreshingly pleasant business. From light bulbs to paint, home repair to winter supplies, Pill's has a lot to offer. Nice place. read more

Semi old fashioned hardware store. Nice, cheerful, pretty helpful staff. Most everything you might need for cleaning, repairs, picture hanging, general maintenance etc around your apartment. Keys made, plant supplies, paint. read more