Branneky True Value Hardware

There’s a reason this place has been around forever: the people. I’ve been coming here for hardware for over 30 years. The service has not changed one bit! It’s still the best you’ll get anywhere at ANY store. I admit that I hit big orange too sometimes, but when I need something obscure, this is the FIRST place I go. In fact, I’ll be passing that big orange sign today to get a couple of keys cut today.
I may sound like a corporate shill here… but, fine, don’t believe me. Do yourself a favor if you want to see what real hardware stores used to be like. Go to any True Value location, but I would highly recommend it be this one. Try it. I have no doubt you’ll agree.

Very simple, if you need it, they have got it and at no extra charge for excellent service as soon as you walk in the door!

I just love going to Branneky True Value. It is like stepping back into time when you enter the store. I NEVER have to go LOOKING for help. There is always someone right around the front to ask me what I am looking for, and they don’t just point me in the direction, they walk me to the aisle and then make sure that its actually what I am looking for.
I needed an odd sized basement drain cover. They did not have one in stock, nor did they carry that size. So the guy walked me up to the front of the store where the offices are and handed me off to someone who looked through catalogs for me to see if he could find one to order for me. When that did not turn up any results, he called the city of st. louis to see if they carry one that size. No luck. He did not give up there. He contacted a company located in Wisconsin that he used to order from, and success, they had one and shipped it to Branneky for me. You just don’t get help/​service like that at the big stores.

The crew at Branneke actually know stuff and have the time to help people on the floor. At bog box hardware stores I tend to wander around looking for what I need, but not at Branneke… and frankly, the staffers are so nice that it’s more fun to get their input.
Most recently, I couldn’t find a cover for my floor air intake register anywhere. I made lots of calls but no one knew where to find one large enough or took extra steps to help. Branneke called their distributor and custom ordered one and, despite our best case expectations, it showed up early, the day before our city inspection!
We’re moving and will miss being close to Branneke, but I am sure that I’ll be making the drive from time to time, when I need someone to actually solve a problem and not just point me to a section of the store.

I worked at an old hardware store while I was in college, so perhaps I’m a little nostagic. Branneky is the hardware store for people who know how to fix things, and need hard to find parts. If you hate throwing something away because a small part is broken or worn out, take it to Branneky. The place is full of ol’timers, who know what they are doing, and can help you out. I don’t hate the big box stores, but they are geared towards selling you new stuff made cheaply in China, and then selling you another one in 3 years. I have never been dissappointed when looking for something to repair things around the house when I stop at Branneky. For instance, I «inheirited» my grandmother’s old pressure cooker. You know — the dangerous kind that really worked :) I’m not too cheap to buy a new one, but the old one worked perfectly fine (and reminded me of my grandma canning fruit and vegetables), but for safety reasons, I felt it needed a new gasket and pressure relief plug. I could not find those parts anywhere (even on the internet beck then). I was shopping at Branneky for an unrelated item, and came across the parts I needed. The icing on the cake was that they were inexpensive. I cannot count the number of times that I have needed a small piece of hardware, and they have exactly what I need without having to buy a plastic bag with 12 of them. They will cut glass, and re-​screen. They sell seed, fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, etc. What I like most is that they have repair parts to rebuild things instead of throwing them out. They have parts for Weber Grills, lawnmowers, decorative hardware, just about everything. Best of all, their staff is very knowledgeable, and never rude (even when the place is slammed). If you like to fix things, or want to see what a real hardware store looks like, stop in at Branneky. Ohh, I almost forgot. They have a popcorn machine, so take your kids too. Sadly, someday places like this will join the ranks drive in theatres, and your kids will not know what you are talking about.

I have been going to Branneky my whole life for hardware store needs. While their prices are not always the cheapest the knowledge of their staff is awesome! They also have an abundance of parts of all kinds in their store. If you need a real hardware store be sure to stop by, you won’t be disappointed!