Heights Ace Hardware

I stopped in ACE Hardware on a Saturday whilst killing time waiting for MOCA to open. I have been carrying around a travel mug lid in my purse missing an O-​ring for weeks. I lost the original months ago & never bothered to see about replacing it.
There was a older gentleman who quickly took me and my lid to the O-​ring section of the store. We deduced the two options that might work and settled on a 79 cent option. It worked, it fit, I paid, and left.
I love that there are still old-​fashioned Hardware stores where they actually have people who know what you need and have it in stock.

Guy who «helped» me was rude. I mentioned how Unilocal offers a 10% off coupon and he immediately and rudely rejected it. Then he acted like they have never offered that. Not a friendly individual at all. Seems like he hate his job and it shows. I tried to be polite at the end and said «thanks!» And he responded with a blank state. Better off going somewhere A) cheaper and B) with a friendlier staff.

Now, I am in no way an expert when it comes to hardware stores, but this one is worth a visit. The staff is SOOO knowledgable and friendly. The gentleman who is there most often (maybe the owner?) is always in such a good mood and eager to help, much appreciated when I wander in there needing home improvement advice. I like it because it is small and easy to navigate.

Location: for anyone who lives near Coventry road this is pretty much a no brainer. I’m really glad to have a hardware store within walking distance. This makes for super easy trips to get things like planting soil, nails, or picture hanging supplies.
Staff: always friendly. Always helpful! Today one guy opened a product in the store after I told him I’d buy it just to show me how it works. I was really thankful for this because I was not fully aware of how to use it. Thanks for that!
Selection: has your basic items. It is a small store, however, so you can’t expect them to carry everything. Some tools, some hardware, those 2-​to-​3 prong electrical outlet adapters that everyone needs, de-​icer, and gardening equipment are just a few of the things I have looked at while I was here.
Prices: everything has been pretty fair I’d say. I don’t pay too much attention to prices at this type of store because what’s most important in this case is how close it is. If you’re the type of person who complains over 50 cents then you’re probably going to order it online and you’re wiling to wait for it to be shipped.

Actually, let me give this place ZERO stars.
You may pass it up and it seems so nice, so cosy and wonderfully local Cleveland Heights traditional neighborhood atmosphere. They have the sweetest dog ever in there, and all sorts of small fun hardware stuff that your kid will beg you to buy, even if it is not clear what this beautifully shaped little metal asset is gonna be used for in a kid’s room.
So, if you only go in to buy a torch or a hood, or a lightbulb, it is close by.
If you need anything more challenging, that requires discussion, which then requires what is called «customer service», maybe do not go there, unless you are or can fake to be a real bloke (that is a UK expression, and I really have no clue how to translate it to US English, sorry! It has something to do with being male, a bit to very much self-​centered, with some rather basic reactions, and sadly it is not really such a good thing to be that, under normal circumstances.)
In other words: be careful.
How to best describe it?
Do you remember the opening scene of Ridley Scott’s «Blade Runner» (1982)? There is this corporate psychologist Holden (played by wonderfully unemotional Morgan Paull) who evaluates suspected replicants in order to find out if they are real humans or undercover robots. The test is a series of questions, quote Holden «designed to provoce an emotional response.»
The psychologist asks replicant Leon Kowalski (played very convincingly by Brion James) question after question, but everything goes wrong right from the first one. Leon does not understand the questions («A tortoise? What’s a tortoise?») gets noticeably by the minute more nervous, confused and aggressive.
At the moment where Holden inquires about Leon’s mother he’s clearly had it, and here comes the famous line: «My mother? Let me tell you about my mother!» and he shoots Holden in a spectacular scene destroying considerable parts of the office, the damage goes into thousands. Great scene in this movie. If you have never seen it I recommend it for the holidays.
Back to real life on earth, or on Coventry Road (it is real? Who knows!) I called this shop upfront if they had and could cut a piece of wood to size for pick up to put a large, expensive cake on.
They told us, they had so many to choose from that I better should come in. I went and they had, well, plywood, plywood, plywood and then drywall. Basically six samples, four of them wood (or is it?) in a tiny storage space of about 2×4×5 foot. Yep, that’s what I call a selection too overwhelming to choose from, makes sense to come in to stare at it for a while.
Staring I did, thinking frantically in my head how to make it work, since I was already there and we all are supposed to support local business, right? (Seems to go wrong every time these days!) I tried my best to bend my standards, although in reality the wood there was nothing I could use as is for any higher purpose than building a garden-​shed for my tools, actually maybe not even that (I love my tools!)
They desperately tried to sell me a left-​over rough piece full of holes for 2 $ that at any other place they would give me as a present. They explained in great detail to me the advantages of taking this piece of wood over having them go through the trouble of cutting a new, slighly better one for 6 $, at the same time pointing out that they WOULD NEVER put any cake on something like this (I totally agree, guys!!!)
I explained that I would need it as base for a complicated cake and that although it would be covered I needed it to be even and without holes.
Suspecting nothing bad to come from it I asked for cutting a fresh one, and here guys, see? I have the money! I have it right here, on me: 6 $ cash into the hand!
In fact for your enormous efforts of cutting me a piece of wood I will make it 7 $ only for you, hey, let’s make it 8 $! This only to celebrate eternal frienship between girls that make cakes and tough real-​deal hardware store staff. And then, well, then I made the considerable mistake asking to cut only up to that bit in the middle that was covered in holes, no further.
Wow. The rest is really so similar to above mentioned «Blade Runner”-opening scene, that it is better you simply go on youtube and have a look for yourself. All I can say, I suppose my request unintendly «provoked an emotional response».
At another occasion I was in there, chatting with the owner, who claimed to be a classical music enthusiast. We got into a bit of a discussion about this and the other music style to the point that I asked him about the young rap buskers at the street corner. His reply was «I think anyone who has anything to do with rap should be shot.»
Hmmm. Different taste in music is fine, but I am still wondering if he meant that literally. I think I do not want to find out.

I always stop in when I am in the Coventry area. I love old hardware stores, and always find something I did not know I needed!

This is a great hardware store, something like what I imagine most were in the old days before big box hardware stores overwhelmed the market with giant lower prices and little customer service. The fact is, such places are a giant time suck, whereas here, the friendly helpful staff always know exactly what you need for any project and where it is located. I try to come here anytime I have hardware needs.

I never thought I’d have much to say one way or another about a hardware store, but I love this place! It’s a little neigborhood store, but has everything you need. I go here often for paint/​painting supplies, regular household needs like light bulbs and extension cords, and… okay, I’ll admit it: there is a very sweet and mellow older dog that wanders around the store most of the time named Bella that I am especially fond of. The (people) owners are nice, and helpful, too. :]

These guys are fantastic. I went in for a new hose for a toilet and one of the guys noticed, after I had purchased the item, that, due to a new vendor for the item, the length had changed, and it probably wouldn’t work for us. So he got us the next size up and didn’t charge us. Another man took the time to ask what our project was and suggested the correct brackets and screws. Excellent service, good prices, and a really sweet, friendly dog to boot.

This is a great neighborhood hardware store and an awesome addition to the neighborhood. I needed a few items to work on my bike. They had everything i needed and rang everything up with a smile. Seriously, don’t go to the Home Depot at Severance, come to Heights Hardware instead.

I needed some hardware and they were very helpful in helping me friend the best and least expensive way to get broken items fixed.

Luckily this is my local hardware store!
Home Depot ain’t got nothin on Ace. I mean sure, they don’t have EVERYTHING that Home Depot has. But they sure as hell come close. I mean seriously, I rarely need to go elsewhere when it comes to home fixes. ALSO the owner is usually there and between him and the other employees you will be sure to get tons of help. They ALWAYS ask. Also they know what they are talking about. They have answers for everything.
Great vibe, super friendly, very efficient.
Please if you’re going to go to Home Depot for some small door stoppers, or paint, or paint brushes or nails… go here first you may be shocked.