Bartunek Hardware

Love this place! I’ve lived in the neighborhood over 20 years, and this is one of the places that remind you what NYC used to be like — what Astoria used to be like before Starbucks moved in. It’s small, so maybe they have what you need, maybe not, but I check here first. Keys made right, screens, spackling, cleaning supplies or even a single little piece of hardware as opposed to a whole box. The prices are reasonable, and these guys know their stuff — and if they screwed up something, they should have said sorry. (I’m sure their mothers/​Kindergarten teachers are embarassed about that.) Good luck finding anyone at Home Depot who knows what anything is, where it is in the store or will give you an apology when they screw things up – speaking from etensive personal experience. I felt bad reading the reviews of people who felt they met attitude/​sexism. I have never felt even a shred of that, and I’ve asked some seriously «dumb blonde» questions over the years. They’re just regular dudes, and I like that. If I want a Hardware Concierge, I’ll shop the Upper East Side — they’re used to high maintenance types. And yea, it’s cash only — just like food trucks and car service. Sure, credit cards would be nice, but they would probably have a $ 15 minimum, and I can’t remember ever spending over $ 15 at a time. My friends who own small businesses struggle to reconcile the benefit of cards with the attendant burdens. So it is what it is. Maybe they’ll get into PayPal or something.

I don’t review often, but after reading some of the comments I feel I have to. I have been a customer for over 20 years. I’m a single woman with a broken down house and make quite frequent visits.
Gary, the owner, never gave me bad advice, always treated me with respect and was more than helpful, even though I was quite ignorant on some subjects. When it comes to lock problems, they work with your schedule and nobody beats the service and the price.
My summary:
*Selection: This is a small place. If you want large isles filled with countless items, drive over to Home Depot.
*Credit cards: So what. Maybe they don’t want the cyber exposure. They changed keys to my house (more times than I care to admit) and they keep a spare copy for me. It gives me a peace of mind to know my address and payments are not stored electronically.
*Store hours: Most people who are complaining about the early closing probably work 5 days a week 9 – 5. Consider the hours the owner works in the shop. Yes, it would be nice if they were opened longer, and I have wished so as well, but I’m grateful the store is open at all and I save my shopping list for Saturday.
*Prices: I found the prices reasonable and comparable, if not better than other NY hardware stores. Considering the rents in this area increased so much in the last few years, I am actually surprised the prices are not higher.
*Knowledge and professionalism: above an beyond based on my experience. Just ask for Gary. And Anton, who is a superb locksmith will install your lock at reasonable price and work with your schedule.
So, before you complain, you should take all of the above into consideration. This store is part of Astoria’s charm and European heritage and they certainly have my support and 5 star rating.

I went in looking for some steel wool to fill holes I have around my apartment. Easy enough, and it was at an okay price.
But I figured while I was there I would ask about what they have that would cover a hole for a wall air conditioner. The gentleman who was «helping» me looked as though that was the most ridiculous question he’d ever been asked. Fine. Maybe it was, it felt reasonable to me.
So I go to check out. I ask if they take debit cards. The guy stops in his tracks, and in a remarkably smug manner says, «No. Cash only» with such an obvious expectation that I would not have cash. It felt as though they thought highly of themselves for only taking cash. I never thought a hardware store could be that pompous.
So, I remove the exact change from my wallet and hand it over. I ask for a receipt, which was a clearly a huge inconvenience for him.
Nothing worse than feeling like an inconvenience when patronizing a store. I apologize for interrupting your day and very important gentlemanly conversations to hand you exact change in cash.
I’ll be traveling further for better service in the future.

This is a charming little neighborhood hardware store with great selection and even better service.
Not really sure why locksmiths in Astoria get little love on Unilocal,but here’s to changing that! I needed a couple of keys copied for my new apartment. I Unilocal-​ed «locksmith» and out of the five shops located nearby, I rolled the dice and chose Bartunek.
I totally lucked out — the employees behind the counter were quite friendly and professional. They made all the copies for me in less than a minute, which was so much quicker than expected. Not only did each copy cost just a buck, the keys actually work! On top of that, while perusing the store I found a quality shower rod and set of hex keys for dirt cheap.
With all the headaches and rigors that come with moving in to a new place, it was refreshing to have such a pleasant and efficient experience at Bartunek. Just found my go-​to hardware store in the neighborhood.

I have had a couple times when the employees did not lead me in the right direction. Just 1 examole: I needed some things to put my apartment together– wing nuts of a table I had lost them for, and shelf pegs. I took photos of each next to a tape measure to get the right sizes. The worker acted like he knew what he was talking about, assured me they were standard sizes and did not even need to look at the photos. Well, they are not standard sizes. He sold me everything the wrong size and I had to go back. I brought the table leg with me. The owner did not even sat sorry or apologize for this employees mistake. The reason they get 2 stars: they make good keys. I’ve had many $.99 stores mess up keys, these guys have a really good machine. They also had salt this winter when no one else did.

I went to Bartunek today wanting to get a few things. Five minute epoxy which I swear by, grout and spackle. I wound up getting the five minute epoxy only. They told me that they didn’t have a credit card machine which I don’t believe for a New York Minute. How, in this day and age, can you not have a credit card machine or accept credit and debit cards? How do they stay open and compete with Home Depot?
I also felt like I was treated like a second class citizen because I was a woman. Maybe I’m over sensitive but they made me wait while they shot the breeze with a guy ahead of me.
Too bad Square Hardware closed. They were amazing.

These guys helped me out with an old piece of luggage that had accidentally been locked (I didn’t have the code). They were great, and the store is well-​stocked and orderly. I’m happy that an independent hardware store like this still exists. The level of service is definitely better and more personal than anything you’d get from a chain store. Thanks, guys!

Old school… yes. Expensive… not really. (think of the time, gas, and wandering around like an idiot at Home Depot costs you) Super helpful… yes. I have sent my contractors there for supplies and they love it. They rescued my daughter who was locked in her room when the old brass lock broke inside the door. We had a nice giggle about that, and now they are coming to fix a broken pane in my french door. Quick, kind, and professional.
Go to place for simple supplies, re-​screening, glass, or locksmith work.
I especially like the countdown to baseball season in the window.

Locked out? CALL THIS PLACE.
I called five places to help me out when I did that dummy thing where I locked the door behind me BEFORE checking to see if I had my keys. Every other place quoted me $ 75-​$ 125 to start — adding in that shady BS about «depending on how difficult the lock is» etc. etc.
This place — $ 45 for a lockout. Why so much cheaper? Not cheaper, inexpensive. Because they don’t want to take advantage of you. Seriously. I know, hard to believe right? This is a neighborhood store that prides itself on being a neighborhood store.
So yes, the price was great and then they wanted to know what time would work for me. This meant I didn’t have to leave work in the middle of day on top of being a bonehead. I met up with them at 5:30, Anton busted his ass to open my door while being super friendly, and now I know to leave a spare set of keys at work.
I hope I never have to call him again but if I do, at least I know it will be an incredibly pleasant experience.

I sadly didn’t get to shop here. Went in at 3:20pm on a Saturday and saw a sign that said «cash only» despite the Unilocal listing saying it accepts credit cards. So I walked two blocks to an ATM and returned (less than 5 minutes later). It was closed… hours say open until 4pm. Awesome!

This place is an Old School Hardware Store run by guys who Know Their Stuff, hardcore! They have everything that anyone could ever need to maintain/​do emergency repairs on any of the old, run-​down buildings in the area (like mine) and they will guide you on how to go about solving any problem. They won’t try to upsell you either and are VERY VERY helpful. Over the years, with their help, I have fixed a leak under my sink, fixed my toilet, re-​taped my showerhead (plumber’s tape), fixed a seal on my radiator, replaced the flourescent bulbs in my kitchen, gotten flypaper (got a batch of bananas once that was beyond infested), gotten glue traps (mice from construction next door) gotten new window screens, caulked stuff up, and gone through tons of workmen’s painted gloves (great for lifting stuff). BTW the painted gloves – cheap cotton gloves whose palms and fingertips are covered in rubberized paint – are a steal at something like $ 2 a pair. This place also cuts keys really well.
They have bizzaro hours, but a lot of their business is in the AM when the trade comes through, or people on the way to work. VERY nice, helpful guys who will really help you get the job done.

The best hardware store – the good old fashioned kind. Don’t see what you want? Ask the guys there they know everything!

had keys made — quick, cheap, what more to say?

Nice place with that back home old fashioned «hardware store and smell» feel to it. They also have that Old fashioned speed and hours of operation. I dropped off a screen frame to have the screen replaced (a task that takes maybe an hour tops) on a Sat and they told me to come back Monday when they close at 6. I don’t get off work till around 6. Sooo I’m either gonna have to find someone else to pick it up or wait till next Saturday! All in all, they are very knowledgeable and willing to work with you.

When it comes to a local shop, this is about as anti-​home depot as it gets. It’s a small hardware store located along 23^rd Avenue, a street where the hustle and bustle become more likely as days go on. Though Bartunek may not have a everything most mega hardware places would have, they are limited to the basic essentials of hardware variety.
In terms of their inventory, I feel some of the stuff here is a bit spendy. Not going to put my finger on any particular item, but $ 6 for a roll of duck tape or $ 8 for a box set of assorted screws feels like a lot. I suppose that comes with the territory of purchasing such items.
The guys who run this place are very knowledgeable about all sorts of tools and are experts in determining what goes with what. I just with their phone manners and in house service was more friendly. Another thing on my wish list is that they closed later than 6PM. I’m never going to be able to visit here during work hours.