Speier Ace Hardware

Joe will be the only reason I will ever come back to this place. I asked two other people a question, the first was the owner who told me he didn’t have time to help me. The other guy told me he didn’t know then went and helped someone who had come in after me. While Joe was looking for the tool I needed the guy who gave up on me told me I needed to go somewhere else to find the tool I needed and I needed to wait until they were more organized. After that I decided to put the two things I already had back and chose to go somewhere else. I needed my tool that day so when he told me I needed to come back I decided that I didn’t need to give them any of my money. I will not be returning. It’s a bummer too because it’s the closest hardware store to my house and I usually will support local business. But not after this experience.

There were some doubts that Speier Ace Hardware would stick around Barret Avenue. This institution’s owner had recently announced he was retiring, making me worry that I would be trekking to Lowe’s even more than I do now.
Happily, a new business stepped up to take over the reigns, and though I hear there are changes coming to the store — such as skateboards and a facelift — the nuts and bolts of this hardware store (see what I did there) are remaining the same.
My sanity — sometimes stretched by home renovation projects — thanks Speier.
I was reminded of how much small, locally owned hardware stores, like Speier, are needed this past weekend.
My guy and I had already been to Lowe’s once to pick up a faucet and a wide assortment of plumbing parts needed for a new sink in our refurbished bathroom.
But we had gotten a J-​bend and not the needed J-​trap to get the water from the sink to the sewer pipes. Another trip to the big box store loomed in our future.
(We are relatively new to plumbing and home repair. Lots of trips to hardware stores loom in our future.)
Rather than driving all the way to Lowe’s, I called and visited Speier and got something I had not received previously: customer service. The man running the shop told me over the phone that they stocked our needed J-​trap, and then I was in and out of the store in less than five minutes, with him remembering that I called and immediately showing me to the selection of J-​traps.
I should have bypassed Lowe’s and tried Speier in the first place.
I’ve found that the prices at Speier can be a tad higher than Lowe’s and Home Depot, but then again, that money stays in the community.
The men who work at Speier have always been eager to help, explaining the finer points of paint rollers and grout floats to me, for example.
They are also open a couple of hours later on Sundays than Keith’s Hardware, another locally owned hardware store in the Highlands.
All around, Speier is extremely handy to have in this area. It’s businesses like these that make a neighborhood well rounded in its offerings.

I was having a pretty bad day, searching high and low for a specific type of curtain rod, but Joe at Ace completely turned my day around. He was helpful, friendly, and everything that a hardware man should be. Fantastic store!

I want to sing better praises for the local hardware store…
During our two big snow storms this year it seemed like my landlord’s thought about clearing the snow was «eh…it’ll melt… eventually.» So I needed to buy a shovel because I still needed to get to work. The first hardware store I stopped at (on a whim) was obviously sold out and recommended Speier.
When I walked into the store, I honestly thought that it was out of business. Maybe that is just because of the mad dash for shovels happened. But the store was a bit in shambles. And the gentleman working the register didn’t know how to use the Square so people can pay with a card. Another gentleman came and helped him out.
I like to support local businesses, but based on my visit I got the impression that this store will be out of business when the founding owners retire.

I love shopping at small hardware stores. Service is always better and the people working their know their stuff.
I stopped in to get some keys made and the gentlemen who helped me was nice, friendly, and talked to me about the area. As an out of towner I love talking to the locals about their town.
Highly recommended!

I can’t recommend this place enough. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place figuring out the lock on the door. I have recently relocated my business and I could not get the door open. The kind gentleman – I believe Rick – was amazing and helping me with it as soon as I mentioned what was going on. He completely made my day easier to deal with. I came back another time (I’m not handy-​capable), and then needed help hanging and he asked several questions about the wall. Then was able to assist which wall to ulitize from there. I will be back!

Each of the Highlands hardware stores (i.e. Keith’s, Horton’s) has a personality and a usefulness. I like Speier’s sassy staff and the prices here are way lower than the Keith’s just a few blocks away. Unlike Keith’s and Horton’s…this is meat and potatoes as hardware stores go. No attempts to keep up with trends, no rain barrels, no garden supply area (they do sell seeds though). Huge parking lot is jealously guarded (due to the now defunct Lynn’s 2 doors and 1 lot over). Access to lot is through the alley off Oak St (or Highland Ave on the north side).

Had to write a review after my visit yesterday to this convenient and friendly staffed local hardware shop — these guys were really nice and helpful as I tried to get a key to a padlock type lock made. Clearly I don’t know how to describe it and that was ok with them which scored them initial points.
So yeah if you’ve got one of those round locks (you know, like a Masterlock but for 2013… ok I’ll stop with my inept descriptions) they might not have the right blank key for you to make a copy that works but they’ll try and hey that’s almost as good.
Unfortunately mine didn’t work but they didn’t charge me since it was a roll of the dice on whether it would. I’ll be back as they are the closest hardware store in my area and they’re clearly in business to help people.
The rentals on things like drills and lawn mowers, etc. is a pretty neat feature of this place too!

Great staff here. If you’re looking for some good advice or help to get something fixed — this is definitely the place to go. While the prices may be on the higher side, the owners and staff make it worth it. I had to fix some basic plumbing and replace a dishwasher and these guys were great. As a local shop it’s super convenient.

I live half a block away from this Ace, and while I’m neither a homeowner nor a particularly handy person, I find myself here all the time. I’m not yet rolling out of bed and showing up in my underwear, but I’m getting close.
The drawback for the little store is obvious: they don’t have everything, and what they do carry doesn’t come in ten different brands. But they do have all the basics, lots of services (key cutting, blade sharpening, propane, machine rentals). And the benefit of convenience is huge, and customer service is off the charts. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been lost in a Lowe’s or Home Depot, searching the aisles for help in the form of a human being. At the Speier Ace it’s absolutely impossible to sneak through the door without being greeted first. And Joe will crack jokes and talk your ear off if you have the time. No extra charge! Nice guys, good store.

This is what a hardware store should be. These guys are friendly and helpful and somehow anything you’ll ever need from a hardware store is crammed into this place. I feel like I’ve stepped back in time here when people actually cared about customer service and quality products. I really don’t go anywhere else.