Chiarugi Hardware

Great place, great customer service. I’ve been here a few times, and they’ve always been the best.

Was there about a week ago to get some keys made. Nice place, nice people. Will be back. All the other reviews spot on. Unfortunately after I told the owner how nice he was and look for this great review, my internet went out for a week. Selection is spotty, but I am a renter now instead of home owner, so I’m sure they will have most all of what I need, or if they don’t they know where to send me.
A friendly place.

I have been going to Paul for my household upkeep since moving to the neighborhood in 2010! He is extremely knowledgeable, efficient and really does care that you get the product you need and that any problem you have is solved. Recently, I needed a few keys made after mine had snapped in the cold. I brought my roommates key, and Paul was able to match it and get them cut very quickly. The keys work perfectly! On top of the keys, he also provided suggestions for cleaning out my locks to keep them working smoothly. This place is just a really great small business.

The owner (Paul) is honest, helpful, and friendly. Not to mention his craftsmanship– he made 2 copies of 5 different keys quicker than I’ve ever seen, and they all worked perfectly. What put me over the top though, was that after I realized I didn’t have money to pay, he trusted me to run back to my house, try all the keys, grab the money, then return and pay him.
I’m bringing all my questions and business to him. The world needs more store owners like him.

Super nice owner. Made a few keys for me that Home Depot wouldn’t. Solid little shop.

Super nice owner. This is my 2^nd time making keys here, and I will definitely come back here if I need to make more keys.

Got some keys duplicated for 2.50/ piece. The man did it really fast and told me to return to the store if the keys didn’t work. The man there was incredibly nice and even ran out of the store to give me a key ring for my new set of keys. Would come here again. This store also carries packing tape if that is needed

Very nice guy. Went to copy my key, got 2 copies and it took him no more than 2 minutes and it was only $ 3 each. I would trust this hardware shop first before going someplace else.

Chiarugi hardware is a gem in Little Italy. Te prices are affordable and they provide excellent. Customer service. I called on my home one evening and they stayed open late so I could pick up a snow shovel. You can find pretty much anything you need for any small projects around the house.

Great family-​owned hardware store in Little Italy! Paul helped me select exactly what I needed for installing some towel hooks in my bathroom. Very helpful and friendly throughout the process. Will be coming back for all my hardware needs.

The owners of this lovely hardware store are hard-​working committed individuals. It’s an old school hardware store where the owners will bend over backwards to get you what you need and help you out. Check them out and keep them in business.

Great family run hardware store! Super fast service and wonderful staff. Chiarugi is the kind of local business that brings neighborhood personability and reasonable prices that no big box store can compete with. Support your local businesses and check out Chiarugi the next time for your hardware needs!

I had to write about my service at Chiarugi. Went in yesterday to get two keys made and also to inquire about options for locking a bifold closet door. They gave me all my options and I ended up not buying anything as I wanted to think about the options. I than went to pay for the keys with a credit card and he either didn’t take them or maybe the amount wasn’t big enough (sorry didn’t clarify this) but than said to take the keys and come back with cash. He kept saying don’t worry about it… I will make sure I go back and pay and keep going there for with my business. As other people have said, this is the kind of business we need to keep in our neighborhoods.

It’s rare to find family owned quality businesses anymore. I go here for all my little hardware needs. Paul, the owner, helps me every time I come in and with his extensive knowledge and experience takes the time to teach me how to use the products and even answers questions I didn’t know I should be asking.
Great place in the heart of Little Italy. I went here to make several copies of keys once and the prices can’t be beat. I’ve gotten a few tools and vacuum bags, etc. over time and I’m always able to explain what I need things for and am always pointed in the right direction.
The home feel and the one-​on-​one help from Paul is something I just can’t and don’t expect from a large corporation.
This is the place for your hardware needs!

SUPPORT LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES!!! Go here for all your hardware needs, they couldn’t be happier and more grateful to have customers and will do anything they can to help you. Best customer service!!!

The best. The owners will always above and beyond to get you what you need and help you solve your problem. They will talk you through your needs and give you their number so they can help you in the future! I will be bringing ALL my hardware business here in the future and referring all my friends & family in the area to them.
This is the way you want to run a business!

Family owned store — the owners sit outside of the shop (when the weather is nice) and say hello to everyone in the neighborhood. I stopped in the other day (after not coming to the neighborhood for about 2 years) and they remembered me!
Chiarugi is as good as it gets. He runs the type of place that you tell him your problem — and he knows exactly what you need to fix it. He even offered to come to my apartment and help me fix my kitchen sink! That’s the type of service that will keep me coming back.

Fantastic local business in Little Italy. 99% of the time they have what you are looking for. They are always helpful! Prices are on par with big box stores. As a urban planner these are the kind of shops that there should be more of. They really help diversify neighborhoods and keep big box stores away while providing the services locals need.
Great for getting keys made…

I’ve been going to Home Depot to get keys made at my own peril. 85% of the time, the keys are unusable or they catch in the lock and are nearly impossible to use. Paul at Chiarugi Hardware to the rescue!
Paul was very friendly and from the looks of it, he uses an older machine that takes a skilled person to operate. He attentively made 6 keys for me which I came home to test. The price was also very reasonable — cheaper than Home Depot. Because of my Home Depot experiences, I expected some to not work — what a relief that 100% of my keys worked flawlessly! Maybe even better than the mediocre key they were made from! Wow.
I’ve got more keys to make (my partner habitually loses keys — arg!) and I’m definitely coming back to Chiarugi to get them made.
While waiting for the keys, I browsed around. Everything was very neat. Turns out they have wine and beer making equipment so if I ever take the plunge to brew my own beer, I’ll be coming to Paul to get started with expert guidance.
Side note — this place is also one of the last remnants of the once vibrant Little Italy community that Daley mercilessly destroyed when planning/​building UIC. You can find old pictures of the community protests and rallys at the time at the library or history museum. It’s really a shame. Come buy your Little Italy memorabilia here too. They also seem to be dog friendly — while I was there, a woman from the neighborhood came in with her little beagle and she chatted with another woman who was working.

Fantastic service.
They weren’t able to help us, but took the time to listen to our problem and refer us to another business that could help us.
Wow! That’s great service.