Hedlund’s Hardware

This place reminds me of someone’s crazy uncle’s garage. When you walk in you’ll notice immediately that things appeared disheveled and cluttered. The saving grace is that the people that work here know where everything is and will quickly lead you in the right direction. I usually stop in here when I need something I can’t find at the big box store across the street which is surprisingly often. Helpful staff, but the clutter gives me anxiety!

They had what I was looking for.
However, I had no shot at finding it myself. If there’s ever a big earthquake and Indianapolis is destroyed I am going to go to Hedlund’s to restore a sense of normalcy because there is already more merchandise piled on the floor than there is on the shelves, and half of the aisles are impassable because of all the stuff everywhere.
So, one star for having the item I needed, and one star for being earthquake proof.

I agree with Byron J. on this one… rude, rude workers here. I asked a worker about an item I needed, and he said he didn’t know and walked away. He started helping some other customer, and I butted in and asked if he could check on this maybe? He yelled something at me (don’t remember… this was awhile back. a real a-​hole), and I left… he shouted at me on the way out as well. Never stepping foot in there again either. I go to Sullivan’s Hardware (any of the locations)… great service there — you don’t get yelled at asking for help at their stores. This post will get filtered for some reason (I guess Unilocal only allows you so many negative reviews? Go figure on this one…).

This hardware store has everything you could possibly need. If it’s hard to find, Hedlund’s has it. While the space is cramped and upon first glance may seem disorganized, the staff knows right where everything is. They efficiently guide you to where you need to be, and pick the parts you ask for. I went to Lowes, Sullivan’s, and about 3 other places none of which had what I needed. A thin threaded vacuum breaker for my outside spicket. They knew what it was and when they realized they had just sold the last one, let me know that a new one was coming in on the truck tomorrow. The part was being held for me when I came to get it the next day. Love to shop local, and love that the owners are there all the time. This really is a neighborhood corner hardware store.

Hedlund’s is great for small stuff where you want someone to help you find what you need. I’d skip them for anything with a motor. had a bad experience on a lawn mower for which they gave me the bums rush when it had a problem. Their starting position was that it was not covered by warranty, and then set out to prove it. Had to call the manufacturer.

D’you know the US Gov’t uses/​d zip ties to arrest people in Iraq?
I’m not arresting people… wait… or am I with my arresting reviews?
Zip ties are like the Samuel Jacksons of «when in doubt» situations and always pulls through in any setting — zip ties, Samuel L.
This place just looks cool. All brick… spinning sign from ’65.
I go in and it’s just as cool in there too… old men hangin’ around talkin’ shop… droppin’ advice within ear shot so be aware… It’ll be daunting at first… but I really recommend wandering around to find what you need… then asking… ‘cus there’s cool things in there like «MEN» and «WOMEN» signage for bathrooms.
I could spend all day in here. Here this place called Hedlund’s where you can literally find anything you need — just start selling beer Hedlund’s &
.go!

The first time I walked in Hedlund’s I was greeted with several friendly faces all trying to answer my questions (which were not communicated in hardware lingo) and help me find what I needed. After loosely explaining why I needed everything the 3 men found the perfect items to save my moving day! That said I have returned several times and the same has occurred. My questions are answered and the employees patiently put up with my circles of questions and crooked expressions. Great group of people available to help.

I love to support local businesses. I walked into Hedlund’s this evening to have some keys made. I wandered around the clutter… not with dismay… but rather with a «ooohhh, I may need that one day… and wow! haven’t seen one of those in years» kind of attitude. I’ll be honest though… I was in search of someone to help me make the keys — LOL — the store seemed deserted. But, wandering around, I came across someone and wasn’t sure if he was the proprietor or another customer… so I just followed him :-)
Turns out it was the proprietor and we chatted while he made my keys. He was rough around the edges, but friendly. We had a nice conversation. The appearance of disorganization is probably just that… an appearance. I’ll bet this guy knows where everything in his store is and why he put it there. I give him 4 stars for being a local businessman making a living in suburbia.
With Lowe’s right across Keystone, he probably doesn’t do a great deal of volumne, but the fact that I was in and out of there in under 10 minutes with keys in hand made the experience very pleasant. He is the epitome of what I expected when I moved to the Midwest. A hard working business man who probably doesn’t take crap from people :-)

Hedlund’s is an acquired taste. Just like the first time you had scotch, Hedlunds will most likely leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. If you take the time to understand the complexities of this neighborhood icon you will enjoy the character that Lowe’s will never be able to duplicate.
That being said, I am a stickler for efficiency and this place drives me nuts, but there is still something that keeps me coming back.
By no means are they here to impress anyone or provide great customer service for that matter, but they know who they are and who their not and could really care less if you approve.

I will probably never step foot into this disaster again.
The store is cramped, the people who work there are pretty unfriendly, and you can’t really navigate the place over the piles of stock just lying about the middle of the aisles. You can’t really find anything, and unless they do a complete renovation or start handing out maps at the door, you never will. Did I mention they just leave merchandise laying in the middle of the floor? There are people there… if you can find them, to ask where something is, but the best you can hope for is they will offer some vague direction to some area of the store where you’ll be left to fend for yourself perilously lost… foraging for the door so you can hop back on Keystone and jet over to Lowe’s or up to Sullivan’s.
I guess the upshot to this place is that you can find the best grills money can buy here (Weber and Holland). But there is still a bunch of stuff scattered about the floor.