Inman Square Hardware

Very efficient use of space here, items along the narrow aisles are mounted on walls reaching almost to the ceiling. Most things you will need are within reach, however. They have almost everything, just ask. They even sell nails and screws by the pound. Browsing is fine, too, and fun. Owner Al Pacheco always greets you enthusiastically with a big smile and a «what can I do for you today!?» He and his son Paul are both knowledgeable and helpful, and welcome questions about how to do things. Prices are typically about 25% less than at other local hardware stores. The store is conveniently located right in the heart of Inman Square near major bus stops.

This is a really lovely – and large! – family-​owned hardware business in… guess where? Whenever I walk in, at least one person is whistling, smiling or laughing. It’s cozy, like a hardware store should be.
They don’t always have a wide variety of each item, but most of the time the one they have is all you really need. If they don’t have something you’re looking for, they’ll let you know when you can come back to pick it up.
Their pricing is reasonable, and they’re very quick with key copies. I frequent this business for both my company’s and my home’s needs.

This review is for their locksmith that they use/​refer you to. The guy showed up within 15 – 20 minutes. Because I was in the area he gave me a good price. He even adjusted the door hinge with some methodical taps that made it close noticeably smoother. I hope I never need this service again, but if I do, I know where to go!

Great staff, very helpful, and a wide array of hardware needs.

I have found Ace Hardware line items $ 1 cheaper here at this store than at Pill Hardware on Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square, Cambridge. You can get cheap clear vinyl plastic tubing here, as well as other useful hardware items.
This store is well run by Paul Pacheco and Alvaro M. Pacheco (name on business card) and reminds me a bit of the now closed Masse Hardware in Cambridge. Paul was great at answering questions and helping me order an item that arrived in a timely manner.
If you are cold in winter and you do not wish to remove your air conditioners or compact window fans, cover your windows with a .5 mil, 1 mil or 2 mil thick «Plastic Drop Cloth» (clear plastic tarping) using duct tape or packing tape around the outer edge of the window indention, and get a space heater (convectional or directional) from companies like Lasko.

Awesome guys. Super friendly and helpful. Answered all of my questions and helped me get all the parts I need. Was treated rudely at another hardware store, so the friendly staff were a breath of fresh air.

I only ever seem to come here when I need the smallest thing but the staff is always super helpful, friendly, and funny. Aside from that, I think I could kill an afternoon just checking out the really random things they have hidden in the huge stock of this relatively small store.

The owner is always whistling and singing and super positive. Everytime I come in here, I’m greeted with an amazingly upbeat attitude. No matter what I need, I ask, and I’m helped — and the help comes with a smile and a positive attitude. Its very refreshing shopping here. So far, everything I’ve ever needed has been here. No disappointments.

I like this place. It’s tiny, but has always had everything I’ve needed, including the ability to copy keys. The owner is funny and always able to answer my questions. I’ve purchased a lot, from keys to duct tape to light bulbs and winter shovels.

It’s packed to the gills, so often you will have to ask where to find things, but they probably have what you need and the service is friendly.

I have come to this hardware store on a number of occasions because of the convenience/​proximity from my property. While they have a balanced inventory of odds and ends, I wouldn’t purchase repair parts from here. I will try to avoid coming here again, unless it is something generic I need. Similar to how I would only seek out certain things from a corner shop convenience store (milk, lotto tickets, etc)
I needed some gaskets & valves to repair a faucet. Since there are literally hundreds of different gaskets out there I knew to bring the worn one to make sure it would be the same. Well the manager insisted that they are all universal (What I brought in). When I held them up next to each other to make sure, and said that they don’t seem to match, he seemed irritated/​annoyed with me, again insisting that they are the same. Guess what, they weren’t and I had to go to Home Depot to buy the right parts.
Also had keys copied here that did not work, I had to purchase a second copy.
If all you need is something basic, like a screw driver or a hammer, this is your place.

I moved to a new apartment that doesn’t have shower doors, so I needed a shower curtain. Walked in just to get shower curtains while we were in the neighborhood. This place has a bit of everything, not just the usual stuff you’ll find at your typical hardware store.
Ended up repairing my mirror, and few electric points and getting rid of my kitchen stains. Later, we also bought paint & decorative materials to color my kids room — they absolutely adore it
The staff members who work there are more than happy to show you where it is and how to properly use it. I’m impressed
This place definitely deserves five stars.

I am giving this place five stars because even if they did not have what I was looking for, I would have still left with a smile on my face.
I came in for basic stuff– keys, small hammer, and hangers for frames. I actually have never hung frames before, and I was almost too embarrassed to ask such a basic question, but I am glad I did, because as soon as I sheepishly admitted I didn’t really know exactly what I was looking for, a really friendly man (not the own) took me to the right aisle and explained each hook/​hanger.
I had forgot what it was like to talk to friendly/​genuine salespeople.

I love this place. One of the very very few places still left were expertise meets friendliness and a well stocked selection of goods. The owner and his son are always helpful and in a very good mood and despite the small size of the store it is well better stocked than eg the hardware section at Target. Today, I wanted to buy a simple light bulp for an ikea lamp. Despite my gut feeling, I did indeed go to Target where I did NOT find this simple bulp but instead bought tons of other stuff I hadn’t planned on buying. Eventually, I ended up at Inman Square Hardware and was happy that my money went to them.
Whether I need a key chain, a solution for my wobbly dining table, or a piece of metal cut into two, this is my place to go!

Solid neighborhood hardware store I’ve gone to for two years for random needs. Helpful staff/​owner though their stuff is priced on the high side. But that’s the price you pay for a place you can walk to instead of your Home Depots.

I needed new keys and a key chain that would not get lost EVER, so I came to my neighborhood hardware store to make this simple request.
Describing my difficulty turning the keys in the locks at my place, the amazingly kind owner showed me some keys with a larger gripping area, saying that they will make it easier to unlock all of my doors.
I was really enamored with this very generous spirit behind the counter and confided in him that I sometimes have trouble opening jars, too. (Early arthritis issues.) Maybe I should buy a wrench? He sprints off and returns with the most amazing jar opening gadget that has utterly changed my life. It was only three dollars (as opposed to all of the expensive wrenches) and does the trick on any size jar or bottle. Bring on the spaghetti sauce and strawberry jam! No more banging jars against the counter top in this household.
A week later I can report that I can now open my all of my doors and all kinds of jars and bottles with ease, have a large NON-​losable neon purple key chain and am out a grand total of eight bucks.
I wish all of my problems could be solved so easily and with such a friendly manner. Thanks, Inman Square Hardware. I have always been a fan of hardware stores and now you are the leader of the pack in my affections.

I just wrote a review for City Paint — from a hardware/​home goods store perspective — and pointed out how badly it compared to Inman Square Hardware. Then I realized I hadn’t written my review for the good guys!
I’m actually not even sure how the two physical stores compare, but the staff is worlds apart. The people here are always happy to answer questions, know exactly where everything is, seem constantly busy but generally approachable, and are genuinely friendly. They’ve also had almost everything I’ve ever gone in for.
Drawback? Well, the aisles are claustrophobic and they pack as many items in as stores twice its size elsewhere. It is Cambridge, though.

I’m always impressed by hardware stores like this one– how is it that in four aisles, they manage to have everything: teapots, drills, trash bags, flashlights. Not only that, but if you stop by the cashier and say «hey, do you know where I can find twine,» he always knows exactly where it is.
I’ve been to Inman Hardware at least thirty times over the five years I’ve lived in Inman Sq and I’ve never left empty-​handed.
As an aside, seems to me Inman Sq. Hardware is the cheapest key copying place around.

Not a big store at all, but you’d never be able to tell from the selection these guys have. I suspect they were once an Ace hardware that went local, so good for them! Their hours are good and considerate of people that actually work during the day and can’t pop down to a store to pick up something whenever they want.
Only problem is, because they pack so much into their smallish space, the isles are really close together. Like, REALLY close. We’re talking one-​person lanes here.
Still, they’ll have what you need at a price you can afford. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, the owner or one of his workers (his sons? I dunno) will help guide you to it. And it’s local!
Edit: I just noticed their address, consciously. Indeed, Inman Square Hardware is «leet.» :)

They have elephant watering cans. That’s amazing. Just sayin.
They have a ton of other stuff too. It’s not entirely organized and definitely cramped, but they fit a lot of really useful fix-​it type stuff in their store.
On top of all that, they’re super nice with decent prices. Yet another reason to skip the big box stores (when you can) and shop local.