Jacobs Hardware

This place is truly a gem, and probably the best old-​school hardware store in Toronto, certainly within the urban core. It’s been there for nearly a century, and they have almost anything an average person could need.
Moreover, the staff is helpful and very knowledgable. They can talk to you about how to approach a project, suggest various solutions, and tell you about all their products. It’s a place you don’t need to feel embarrassed if you don’t know the right technical language, and almost anything can be pulled from one of the many nooks and shelves around the store.
Places like this are a dying breed, and I treasure stores like this as cultural institutions and repositories of disappearing knowledge. You’ll never get service like this at a big box home improvement store, and you’d be hard pressed to find anything comparable at most mom-​and-​pop hardware stores as well.
A great place to check out, and a business worth supporting. Check out what The Star had to say in 2014:

What can I say that hasn’t already been said?
This place is a trip back in time where the customer service surprises you!
Helpful doesn’t describe it. These guys know their stuff and make shopping there a pleasure.
Hubby got what he needed and they removed the key that broke off in our padlock for free!
I believe in keeping the little guy in business instead of giving my heard earned cash to big box stores like Home Depot, so we will definitely be back!

Super friendly. All the hardware one needs for downtown living. Keys cut in 2 mins. :)

Fantastic store that also stocks the new Keyport! The only place in Toronto to get this! They cut keys right away, and have lots of keyport blanks available for same day service!

Awesome place, narrow, old, smells like it’s 100 years old in there. Customer service from every employee is A++.
This hardware store stocks all kinds of hard to find items. I have purchased plumbing parts, Keys, electrical items, cleaners, hand tools and lots of other things. Some of the purchases have been small like nuts and bolts, the employees were attentive and made sure I left with what I needed.
I made an order for a specific lockset, the employee went out of his was to pick it up on his way to work. He then explained all the inner workings (educated locksmith) so I did not mess up the install.
The area is fortunate to have you guys.

Love this place! They always seem to have what I’m looking for. The bonus is that you can walk in and get whatever you want brought to you rather than trek around Home Depot trying to locate obscure items that you may never find. At least at Jacobs they can tell you right away whether they have it or not. It’s out of a time warp, that’s for sure. One time I walked in the shop and heard the clickety-​clack of an old school typewriter, something I hadn’t heard in years! The guy was up in the loft typing out invoices or something. They do some heavy duty work out in the back like cutting and threading iron pipe for gas fittings and stuff like that. Also their key-​cutting is dirt cheap, at about $ 2 a key. Amazing how they seem to know where everything is in alll that clutter, but Home Depot employees can learn from them in that respect. There are not many places like this left, so it feel great to give them business whenever I can.

Fantastic small store crammed with all your hardware needs. Don’t bother to try and find things yourself, it’ll probably take you all day, just ask the staff who are very helpful and knowledgeable. They don’t make stores like this anymore

Jacob’s is a great resource when you’re looking for things you just can’t find elsewhere, with amazing knowledgeable and helpful staff.
I can’t say how many times I’ve had a Made in China or Ikea item with odd-​sized screws or parts that just cannot be found anywhere (including Ikea).It never fails. Jacob’s always has them!
Jacob’s is small… very small. and although there are no neat or organized aisles to walk through, you can find whatever it is you’re looking for from asking the helpful staff at the front, who are always more than happy to help you find the item you desperately need. Trust me, I’ve had breakdown moments where I have felt like I will never find the integral piece to hold together that key piece of furniture, and Jacob’s has saved the day. As mentioned in a previous review, yes, the helpful guy at the front will go into the abyss (or black hole?) of the world of Behind-the-Counter-Jacob’s, and come out with exactly what you need… When all else fails, Jacob’s won’t!

As a not-​so-​handy lady who is often sent on office errands, this is my go to place. There are a bunch of awesome young men and one old wizard who will go back into the Jacob’s Hardware abyss and come out with whatever you asked for: a screw, a level, a ladder, lumber, paint, or any made-​to-​measure doohickey under the sun!
Go to here. It is good.
–The Duchess of Jacob’s Hardware

This place is a throwback to yesteryear when quality of service was paramount. They are well staffed and are more than happy to help you with your project however they can.
I’ve been to this shop a few times, some successfully getting the contraption/​part/​thing-​a-​ma-​jig I required, and sometimes not. However when they don’t have exactly what you need, they suggest some clever alternatives or suggest what other shop in town will be able to fill your request.
They have a surprisingly large inventory which you can’t help but stumble over as soon as you walk in the joint. (You can’t miss it… inventory is floor to ceiling EVERY-​WHERE! And man, do they have high ceilings!
This shop is pricy, but you do get amazing service for your dollar. If you need help with your project talk to these guys.

Jacobs is a very cramped little shop crammed with hardware supplied of many finds. There are no spacious aisles of well-​labeled parts here; the only way to find what you’re need to to ask for it. The staff here is GREAT! Friendly, funny, and helpful. AND they had basically what I was looking for (at roughly double the price I bought the same stuff for last week in the US). Gaffer tape? Check. Spray paint? Check. Goo Gone? Check. Fine sandpaper? Check. Overall a good haul.
The biggest problem is that they have REALLY restricted hours. 9:00am to 5:30pm weekdays. 10:00am to 1:00pm Sat and closed Sunday. That’s bad even for Toronto. I mean, if a person has a job then there is really no way that person could shop here. So if you can make it here then it’s a good place to get your hardware needs… IF you can get here in time.

Hardware buffs– this place is the gold standard. If you need it they will find it for you.- Seek a recommendation on epoxy? They have ten varieties that they will lay out side by side and conduct a Consumer Reports style presentation. Small wonder the place has been around for 70 years. With this kind of service and expertise you can expect another 70 from these fine folks. Be warned– if neat and tidy is your compulsive disorder you may want to shop at Home Cheapo.