Simon’s Hrdwr Supls

On one hand I love this place. It’s frozen in time. A monument to a bygone era. It’s so funky and run-​down, and the owner is this crusty old character who has seen the neighborhood change over the decades, and he’s still going.
On the other hand it’s a miracle they’re still in business at all. Stuff is just heaped everywhere, it’s nearly impossible to browse, the lighting is poor, it smells like black mold, they don’t usually have what you want and seem baffled that you want it.
It’s really baffling: there’s a «paint store» across the street and down a block, which sells TONS of hardware but refuses to call itself a hardware store, in deference to Simon’s. This paint store guy tells me they don’t sell ceiling hooks (for example) because that stuff is available at Simon’s. Meanwhile they do stock screws and nails and a million other hardware items. So strange.
Further baffling, next door to the paint store there’s another place called Simon’s that only sells bathroom fixtures and hardware. But this place is totally unlike the other Simon’s; it’s clean and bright and well stocked.
So confusing.

Great service and owners. They are always very helpful and nice. They make keys and the prices are very fair. I like that the owner is always there.