Ace Atalic Hardware

I suspect this is the best hardware store in the Richmond, CA, area, and it is my favorite hardware store period. It is an old fashioned store, with 90% of the space behind the counter. You explain what you are looking for and one of the young clerks or two owners get it for you. You can buy small quantities — one nut, bolt, washer. You can get helpful advice. Spanish language is supported. They just have electrical, mechanical, plumbing hardware: no plants, no lumber, no appliances. You are in and out very fast. If you value your time, it is a better buy than Home Depot, Orchard, or Lowes.

Oh my god! I have rediscovered the joy of shopping at an old-​fashioned hardware store.
This is the hardware store of TV commercials: old fashioned friendly service, knowledgeable people and lots of interesting hard-​to-​find items. Is there such a thing as the «slow hardware movement?»
They have galvanized tubs, post hole diggers, rare and obscure key blanks, cider presses, big propane burners for making vats of kettle korn or churros, and everything else.
I’m coming back here when I have more time just to look around.

They are very helpful and seem to try to employ a lot of youth from the area. I love them for this. I’ll always try them 1^st. A lot of things are behind the counter which doesn’t let me browse as much as I like but they have a firm grasp on their inventory it seems. So if you tell them off some project that you have in your head that needs a whatchamacallit or a thingamajig they are helpful enough to figure it out. PLEASE PATRONIZE THIS SHOP

Courteous, competent, quick service. Exactly what one wishes for in a hardware store.
Many thanks to the junior team working this Wednesday afternoon for greeting me, finding exactly what I needed, ringing me up with a smile, and getting me on my way quickly.

Exceptional knowledgeable, quick service. Small hardware store stuffed to the ceiling with supplies for home repairs. Staff know what parts are needed for common household repairs such as faucets and showers, doors, and a great variety of replacement and repair hardware. Friendly neighborhood store. You won’t get lost here. Robert and others appear quickly at the counter to take your questions. Service!

Aside from all the other great things people say about Robert & Patrick’s Ace Hardware store that has been serving this neighborhood forever… I can attest that they make keys better even than the nearest lock & key store! Other than one key maker that moved away decades ago, I have never found anyone who makes keys as well as Robert & Patrick at the Ace hardware story on McBryde. Now I never go anywhere else to have keys made.

I strongly prefer going here vs. home depot whenever possible. Staff are very friendly and helpful, great inventory, and so much faster than the sprawling aisles of HD.

Generous, super helpful staff and quality products. I always go here when I need advice, and I feel great about supporting a local old-​school business.

Good stuff good price not a chain store more like a local shop to but hardware, tools etc no big lines and they have a lot to offer.

Great neighborhood hardware store. Owner is super nice & the staff are very helpful & knowledgeable. Thy usually have what I need.

They say ACE is the place with the helpful hardware people. In this case, it’s absolutely true. The brothers who own this store have been there for nearly forty years, and they take pride in greeting their customers, serving them promptly and politely, and getting them the best possible deal. They really have everything — if you can’t find it, ask for it! It has the feel of an old-​fashioned mom-​and-​pop hardware store — the only thing that’s missing is a soda counter.
The last time I was in was to pick up some replacement bolts. I asked for a gauge because I didn’t know what size they were. Instead, one of the owners eyeballed the bolt I brought in and NAILED IT (no pun intended). I was totally impressed. Then we starting chatting about vegetable gardening and he actually gave me a cutting from one of their garden plants for our garden! That will never happen at the big box hardware store, I can tell you that! I just walk out of this store feeling happy. :)

What’s it take to get five stars around here? I have seen some interesting comments (closed on Sundays: everyone deserves a day off and it is obviously not economical to have that place properly staffed 1/​customer so there you go… maybe a religious thing — whatever) and as far as price: It is 2014 and no one expects the best price from a «brick and mortar» operation anymore. For price you turn to the internet.
Shopping locally has nothing to do with being price competitive, it is about the 1) the convenience of having something immediately; 2) being able to examine something in-​hand; 3) being able to return an item with ease; 4) expertise (you can of course get great advice through the internet/​message boards; getting a response from a posting could take weeks) nothing beats direct communication; 5) supporting a business you have a connection with/​like. Some would argue that you can also compare items /​and that your trip to the store has a lower environmental impact than shipping something. Not using the internet has numerous advantages.
So you are paying for the above, not the product/​items themselves. You go to the internet if bottom-​line pricing is your concern. It is unrealistic to expect otherwise.
This place is great and doing the neighborhood a service by being there. It is not fancy, to be sure — but I am not taking a date to Ace Atalic Hardware. I go to AAH to get things done and so far (three out of three) they have come through for me splendidly, even on some items I was sure I was going to have to go to H/​D for. Five stars gentlemen, and I apologize for my fellow Unilocalers who are reserved with their five star ratings… you deserve six. Thanks for reading.

This is a great hardware store and they help you immensely. The only problem I have with them is there are no returns whatsoever, whether you have the receipt or not, no returns even for store credit. That has kept me from going in there repeatedly as I buy stuff and change my mind. I think their prices are high too, but the convenience is worth paying the higher price for.

I’ve lived in the view for 20 years. This shop is one of a kind, and a huge asset to our neighborhood. I don’t know how they manage to locate the inventory that is strung in every eve and corner of the place but they do! Cut a mirror, done! Cut a key, done. Free advise offered freely. I still don’t know which brother is Robert and which is Patrick but who cares?

pros: Good inventory, well staffed, knowledgeable clerks. You get the full attention of a clerk. Antithesis of a big box.
cons: Closed on sundays, not priced to compete with other hardware stores, but this is is a different class of merchant. I hope they can continue to compete far into the future.

Stellar, individual service, competitive prices, and EVERYONE who works there is well informed and eager to help you out. WIN. Tons behind the counter. Ask for help, even if you think you don’t need it. On the off-​chance they don’t have what you need, order it rather than be depersonalized by yet another Big Box Retailer.

They seem accessible and ready to help, but at a price. I took a couple of window screens to replace, just the screens not the frame, sized 35“X46″ and 24X46, and they charged me a whopping $ 62.00. When he told me the cost, I was stunned I could not even respond, and I walked out of there feeling like I’ve been taken to the cleaners. Yes, I made the mistake of agreeing to the charges when I should have taken my business else where, but it will be different next time. It is a very expensive outlet, not your bargain spot.
I just called Oliver’s Ace Hardware in El Sobrante and I was quoted $ 30 for the 2 screens. I should have shopped around first.

I have been coming to this mom and pops hardware store since moving to CA. I actually didn’t know it was an Ace.
LOVE IT :)
It’s so homey in here. The only time I manage to come here is when I need to make copies of some keys. They always do an excellent job. I love the fact that everyone in the store speaks spanish for the spanish folks. Great incentive. They are always super helpful and sooooo knowledgeable.
Great store… check it ou!

After 6 years of living in Richmond, I can say this place is a true gem.
Everyone (yes, even the high school aged females) know their stuff, can get you out the door with the right part fast and reasonably priced.
It is the kind of place that you can walk in and say these exact words while making hand gestures and then walk out with the correct item.
«I need the doohicky that screws on the thingamajig underneath the silver thing that is hooked on the the whatchmacallit»

This place serves the community well. It’s run by brothers that are so experienced with the hardware trade you’d have a hard time stumping them with a part or problem. They also employ youth and give kids a chance to work hard and take responsibility and get pride.
Apple computer copied their genus-​bar approach to customers and fast solutions! You can be in and out of here in minutes and back to your DIY plumbing project pronto. It’s a whole different experience than most hardware businesses.
I don’t see the brothers wearing lederhosen anymore. That was fun to see them in costume.
The paint store next door is a great compliment to this small business district.
Friendly and efficient and a place that has everything with a service counter rather than row upon row of product aisles.
I’d call this business green because it is not focused on packaging. The goods seem to be mostly American made. They empower youth, They keep prices reasonable. They are pros and they give you a good place for everything under one roof.
How they manage to stay organized and well stocked is a work of art.
Take your camera with you when you go so you can capture an image of this amazing place.