Ralph’s Hardware

Ralph’s Hardware reaches beyond the boundaries of the conventional hardware store to present a cacophany of household goods from all eras, with limited reliance on standard retail categories, display conventions, and shelving practices. Unlike other stores, that discourage a shoppers inherent curiosity with clean, simple, easily navigable layouts, Ralph’s remains committed to an aesthetic of disorder and assemblage.
It’s also the College Ossington go to place for key cutting and Portugese flags during World Cup season, run by friendly people who often sit outside and seem to have a handle on everything happening in the neighbourhood.

Finally went in here after staring at the window displays time after time, looking for cheap old bowls for a DIY project I didn’t want to spend too much money on. I was so fascinated with the amount of stuff in there, it was a lifetime collection of vintage/​thrift stuff that is so trendy these days. I thought I hit the motherload. The owner (Ralph?) sat in a chair looking pissed that we had come in at all and didn’t answer any questions we had. He looks like he would be a super nice guy but he was so gruff and cold the day I went in :(
Nothing is price marked in the entire store. I thought the bowls I picked out would be between $ 2 and $ 4. I bring my three bowls to the cash and am charged $ 23.70, plus a debit fee. I’m not given a receipt or a breakdown of cost. I was so surprised and intimidated by this guy that I didn’t just leave right then (as I should have). I paid the man his exorbitant price and left feeling like a moron.

I’ve stopped into this hardware store a couple times for random things over the couple years that I’ve lived in the area.
Why should you go here? Well the place is packed to the roof with various odds and ends, tools, housewares, and more. Not much in brand names but they’ll usually have some iteration of what you’re looking for, and will definitely get a better price than any Home Hardware or corporately owned hardware store. I got a pretty sweet car ice scraper /​snow brush combo thing for only $ 4.99! I’m not really sure the running price of screws and wall hooks but the lady working was quite helpful in finding what we were looking for every time I’ve been there. The only time I’ve left empty handed from this place was when looking for a lamp as they things they had were all a bit dated, and to be honest I didn’t really expect to find much to begin with.
But that all said, there is also a feel good feeling when shopping from oldschool independent businesses that have been in the community for so long, so that’s another good reason to go as well.