We love a good neighborhood hardware store. With superstores like Home Depot and Lowe's, the local hardware store can easily be overlooked. Honestly, when you have a question or if you aren't really sure what you need, can you really trust the insight of an hourly employees at a giant box store? If it is expertise you are looking for, there is no better resource in DC than Frager’s...
We love walking in and immediately getting a friendly greeting from the cashiers. As you shuffle over the worn floors, down the narrow, overstocked aisles – a look of confusion will bring a staff member immediately to your side offering help. Imagine that happening at a superstore!
The aisles are filled to the brim with practically anything you'd ever need (and often a curious collection of non-hardware items) – every single square inch of space is utilized for display and storage. They offer a full-service hardware store with equipment rental, a more than adequate garden center and an adjoining paint store.
We've heard they store even more in the non-public 2nd floor and basement - so if you don't find what you're looking for on your own, just ask. Don’t be surprised if you get a lesson in whatever it is you’re inquiring about from the staff. They are all experienced, knowledgeable and genuinely seem to enjoy helping people and offering insight.
You might pay a bit more, but Frager’s has come to our rescue on more than one occasion. Yea Fragers!
- Caroline
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This is a great hardware store. The staff has great expertise. It can be hectic in there on a weekend, but any wait for the right staff person, with the right knowledge, is totally worth it.
I just bought a house in Capitol Hill and have become semi-regular at Fragers. I think the hardware store is great, but I have been disappointed with the service in the paint department.
I LOVE Frager's! I go alot -- in fact I'm surprised you were able to get photos of it without featuring me.
The staff is fabulous and they have everything. Rule #1 is if you don't see it ask and then hang on cause you might be in for a circuitous trek. There's always another room filled to the brim.
Also I hear they have IKEA replacement parts.
This is the kind of post that makes my day!
Yay for Frager's! This place has everything, and the staff are so friendly and helpful - they'll stick with you until they've found what every you're looking for, and they're quick to offer suggestions if you don't know what exactly it is you need.
Thanks, Caroline, for mentioning Frager's. It is such a great hardware store. The people there are so nice.
I also liked Candey's Hardware downtown, but I think it's gone condo.
Another old-style and personable neighborhood hardware store is in my neck of the woods--Northeast. Nrookland Hardware is great--people are super-nice and helpful and the place is chockfull of things.
Brookland Hardware!
Fragers is my neighborhood hardware store and I love going in there to just browse the narrow isles packed with stuff! Everyone is so helpful and friendly too.
I'm another regular at Fragers......owners of old houses on the Hill practically live there! Another great thing about Fragers is that you can set up an account and they bill you once a month (and you get a discount if you pay early!).
I just moved from Capitol Hill to Mt. Rainier, MD. I LOVE Frager's. I need a place that's a tad closer to the new place, though, so thanks for the Brookland Hardware recommendation. I'm sure I'll be there shortly.
Going to Frager's is recreational/educational as much as it is practical. And once you've gone to 18" wide aisles and started hanging significant amounts of crap from the ceiling as well, I wouldn't be surprised if they have as much inventory as a Home Despot.
It also occupies, as some have noted, the entire second floor of most of the rowhouses on that block. Thus far I have visited Lawnmower Balcony (over Ladder Courtyard,) Plexiglas Basement, and Trash Can Salon, but there's much much more....also I'm not sure how nonpublic the second floor is (just nonobvious.)
The "apartment" (now the trashcan area) has cedar-lined closets to die for.
Hell, you should've seen the "old store" before the reset!
I miss the toilet seats and the nail bin!
I just went to Tribeca Hardware on Chambers St. in New York. They almost always have what I need, and today was no exception. Plus they gave my dog a biscuit AND let my kid spray his water pistol at them while I shopped. They're the best!
i'm a faux finisher in dc and i use Fragers paint department pretty often. this place is a true gem.
for the mount rainier person, try Peoples over on kennilworth.