- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Back Bay Hardware
Category: Shopping Home & Garden Hardware Stores Hardware Stores [Edit]
233 Newbury St(between Exeter St & Fairfield St)
Boston, MA 02116
Neighborhood: Back Bay
(617) 536-0913
- Nearest Transit:
-
Ring Rd @ Boylston St (9)
Boylston St Opp Gloucester St (170, 193, 39, 55)
Ring Rd @ Huntington Ave (9)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 7 pm
Sat 9 am - 7 pm
Sun 10 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
25 reviews for Back Bay Hardware
Review Highlights
-
"...super friendly and willing to help you find what you need." In 4 reviews -
"this place is tiny but the workers are VERY helpful." In 9 reviews -
"All of the keys I've had cut here worked, too." In 5 reviews
Loading...
25 reviews in English
-
Review from Christopher C.
Echo Park, Los Angeles, CA
1/22/2012
Extremely helpful....friendly staff. Not a large store but the staff makes up for it in accommodating for their customers. I live right by another hardware store but will definitely choose back bay hardware over them. Again great customer service and affordable prices!
-
Review from Michelle T.
Boston, MA
8/18/2011
It's a little store with a lot of personality, thanks to the sweet cashier who can help you find what you need AND recommend take out dishes at the same time.
I bought a stove gas connector for $40, probably paid a little more for the Back bay location, but as long as it works, I'm happy.
I was told if the connector isn't the right model, I can return the connector as long as it is NOT opened. Guess I gotta wait for the installation guys to come! :) -
Review from Rachel P.
Boston, MA
8/17/2011
Moving to Back Bay and giving up our car would be very difficult without places like Back Bay Hardware. It's very tiny but they cram as much in there as they can, and there's really nothing else like it around. The people that work there are extremely helpful. When we moved into our apartment, my boyfriend must have gone there a few times a day for a few days in a row. They were great at giving advice on anything we needed, and did their best to provide the right supplies.
Always ask for help as sometimes it's hard to find exactly what you need, but that doesn't mean it's not there.
And they let us bring our dog inside which is great! -
Review from Sue B.
Boston, MA
11/5/2011
Needed help with hangers for paintings.
The gentleman (short, balding, glasses) was SUPER helpful and walked me to the back of the store and gave me a lesson on hanging EVERYTHING. He showed me the different styles of fasteners, hangers, anchors, etc for all of my picture hanging and mirror hanging needs.
The stuff I purchased was reasonable, but I can imagine that some of the stuff in here would be on the high side to make up for the fancy Newbury Street Location but the knowledge of the staff makes it worth it! -
Review from Simon C.
Boston, MA
1/1/2012
Very helpful staff, and chock full of stuff. Surprising since the place is so small. Excellent service!
-
Review from Christopher M.
Somerville, MA
2/25/2011
Easily my favorite hardware store east of Ohio. I wander the aisles in awe of the design team who managed to cram a full hardware store into the cardboard box of a space that they inhabit and once I get over the amazement I ask one of the unbelievably friendly and helpful employees where the specific thing I need is, he takes me right to it and the five variations that they have, rattle off the differences, and help my make the right decision.
It really is a weird feeling walking out of there, turning around, and realizing that everything just went down ina space about the size of my kitchen.
Kudos to you Back Bay Hardware, I'm a shopper for life. -
Review from Amy B.
2/7/2011 10 Check-ins Here
When we moved to Back Bay, Back Bay Hardware was a lifesaver. They carry all the odds and ends you inevitably need in your new home: lightbulbs, screws, dustpans and brooms, wall hooks, and cleaning supplies. We bought a stepladder here to help us reach high shelves and a wheeled cart to help with grocery shopping. I don't think there's anything we needed that Back Bay Hardware didn't have.
As other reviewers have mentioned, this is also a great place to get keys made. They make the keys quickly and for a low price. All of the keys I've had cut here worked, too. I know this seems like faint praise, but it's not that uncommon for a new key to be just a bit off, so kudos to Back Bay Hardware on this one.
The staff is also very friendly and helpful, and will quickly help you locate what you need.
The cons of Back Bay Hardware are few, but worth mentioning:
1. It's a bit expensive. You pay for the convenience and the neighborhood.
2. The store is tiny, which means it can get crowded quickly.
3. The tiny store also means the merchandise is arranged vertically and some items can be hard to reach or find. As previously mentioned, the staff is great at helping you find things, but if the store is busy, you may find yourself on a wild hunt for shower curtains or lightbulbs! -
Review from Thomas S.
Boston, MA
7/31/2011
Only duplicated a set of keys here so know that I have a limited experience with the shop.
They were helpful and friendly.
Small touches like making the copies of two keys a different color so they could be told apart more easily tells me these guys care. -
Review from Will G.
Boston, MA
2/13/2011
Pros: Has everything you need, seriously. For example, they will even mix custom paints, and had things you would never think like portion scales. Great customer service, as soon as you enter someone asks if they can help you with anything.
Cons: Expensive, but probably cheapest (and only) place in this part of the city to get this stuff. -
Review from Samuel M.
Brighton, MA
1/1/2011
Can duplicate your key in 2 minutes for 6-7$ even if it's written on the original key "do not copy".
Perfect and friendly service. You can find everything there. -
Review from Louis C.
6/20/2008
Park's True Value is kinda cool, since it is pretty much the only place in the Back Bay that you can get all your hardware needs or just stop in for a lightbulb and to make a spare key. The staff is great, extremely knowledgeable and professional.
The reason why I only give it 3(1/2) stars is because the store itself is WAAAAAYY too tiny. Okay, maybe there's no need for a Home Depot on Newbury Street but seriously the isles are like a foot and a half big. Only enough room for one person to pass through which can make for a scary game of twister between hammers and socket wrenches. -
Review from Lauren B.
Boston, MA
12/11/2007
I must have walked by this hardware store on Newbury Street hundreds of times without realizing it. Now that I found it, I plan on visiting frequently as they sell just about everything that fits in their cluttered but well organized space.
And it's not just the selection, it's the customer service that won me
over. I went in for a humidifier without knowing the first things
about how to use it, size, filters and how to clean it. Not only were all of my questions answered, the sales person (who doubled as the owner) told me the better deal was the cheaper model which turned out to be the same price as Target.
I am thrilled that I found an actual hardware store because it's so much better to be able to talk to real people rather than settle for whatever I can find at CVS. -
Review from Richard M.
Newton, MA
3/9/2010
It ain't HD, but thank all 5 stars for that.
They are helpful, friendly, amazing well stocked for the tiny size of the store. The owner and manager are super knowledgeable and seem to go the extra mile in terms of helpfulness. -
Review from Steven P.
Boston, MA
11/19/2009
This place totally rocks...as much as any hardware store can. Spend a couple of minutes in the place and just notice how quickly those guys solve all sorts of problems. They're really amazing.
Sure, you might just hit them up for lightbulbs, but take another look around...I'll warn you, you'll end up seeing tons of stuff you never thought you'd need.
Oh, just read another review...somebody gave them fewer stars because of the store's size? Are you kidding? I'd give Parks ten stars if I could. -
Review from Emily H.
Boston, MA
9/18/2010 2 Check-ins Here
This store is like a TARDIS: tiny on the outside, enormous (at least in stock) on the inside. For such a small place I am so impressed that I have never been disappointed by them not having what I need or enough of it. The staff is friendly and extremely helpful. Even when the place is busy and the small aisles are packed, I can always get someone to help me find exactly what I need before rushing off to help someone else.
-
Review from Heather S.
Boston, MA
1/6/2009
Parks True Value gets 4 stars because a) it is the only game in (that area of) town. b) they have everything you could possibly need crammed into the world's smallest hardware store. and c) they duplicated keys to my boyfriend's pad for me that clearly say "do not duplicate" on them. for that, they should get 5 stars!
-
Review from Jennifer S.
Salem, MA
3/16/2006
A little scary when you first walk in, it looks like my Dad's messy workshop in our basement, but the staff is very friendly and eager to help you find just what you need. It is also really conveniently located right smack dab in the middle of Newbury st.
-
Review from Joanna C.
Boston, MA
8/26/2007
This place offers everything you might need in a pinch during a home renovation project. It's small and (as expected) more expensive than say Home Depot, but the staff is super friendly and willing to help you find what you need. One note... if you're looking for interior paint, don't get it here. Spend a little more for the good stuff at a dedicated paint store.
-
Review from Abe K.
Spencer, MA
1/15/2011
Was able to get copies of my "duplication prohibited" apartment keys in under 5 minutes for $3 each. Fast service, convenient location (~5 min from Hynes station), what more can you ask for?
-
Review from B W.
Dorchester, MA
12/15/2009
This store is a jem! This place has never failed me, from industrial strength drain cleaner, to suction cups, screws, and everything in between, they have it! Generally I come here after I've looked in three other stores and don't think anyone, anywhere carries what I need...but then Parks has it! Someday I'll learn to look here first.
The place is tiny, and packed! But the staff know where EVERYTHING is, and will walk you to it and hand it to you, just ask, don't bother looking on your own. -
Review from Katia M.
10/1/2008
This is probably my favorite hardware store in Boston. I mean, I don't know quite why, but the employees are always so nice, they have a really astonishing variety of things in a tiny space, and it's always on my way somewhere. Plus, they make me keys. Wonderful keys that always work. And they always give me one of those cute, tiny paper bags for the screws and anchors I buy and then don't use for like 3 months because man, I hate putting up shelves. Sometimes it's a little rough getting through the aisles, but I always find something random that I need anyway.
-
Review from Brendan M.
New York, NY
12/4/2005
This place is amazing - despite having about the same floorspace as an oversized closet, they seem to have every bit of hardware you could possibly need in here. On top of that, the staff is incredibly helpful and ready to give advice. So OK, their prices might be a touch higher than some of the bigger chain stores, but at least when you walk out you can be sure that you have what you need.
-
Review from Kza W.
Boston, MA
4/26/2009
The place is old school and the person who runs it will not let go of of what makes it special. Which is, not given in the the surrounding environment which you know to be Newbury St. as it is today. The level of costumer service, is great, personal and one that comes with only one person, it's self run and owned. If someone else helps you, it's a family member. Anything that you ask for they have. And just because is on Newbury St. does NOT mean that the prices are higher, they're actually as good or lower than than its closest competition Economy Hardware.
-
Review from Katie M.
Jamaica Plain, MA
2/18/2011
I have used this hardware store for several years, since I lived in the Back Bay. The store is slightly overpriced, but for the convenience of not having to go to Home Depot in South Bay, I'll take it. Now, I live in JP, and I still go to this store, over the hardware stores closer to home, for the following reasons:
1) the staff is awesome. They take the time to actually walk me through the store to find what I'm looking for, and talk me through the options.
2) they ask about the project I'm working on, and will make suggestions for ways to do it more efficiently.
3) a couple of weeks ago, I bought a set of very expensive light bulbs, only to get them home, and discover that after opening one, they weren't the right size. I took them back this afternoon, and even with one open, and no receipt, the clerk returned them and gave me my full refund in cash.
4) the employees don't hit on me. as a single lady in a hardware store, I'm used to employees making comments, and I have never encountered any innuendo here.
Short story -
good hardware store in an expensive neighborhood. They're a tiny bit more expensive than the big box stores, but the customer service and convenience totally make up for it. -
Review from johnny b.
Boston, MA
6/3/2009
this place is tiny but the workers are VERY helpful.
it's nice to see local small business surviving...
