P.J.'s Ace Hardware INC. — Attraction in Oak Park

The 1.5-mile stretch of Chicago Avenue through Oak Park is bookended by two throwback hardware stores - Dressel's (now Olson's but it'll always be Dreesel's to me, same as Sears will always be the name of the Tower) and PJ'S. Dressel's holds down the west end, near Harlem Ave; PJs is an extension chord away from Austin on the east.

Both are great local businesses. I live closer to PJs, so I tend to go there. It's a warm, family-run business. Customers linger at the counter to talk with whomever is behind the counter. The staff is friendly and chatty, the way you'd imagine a hardware store from a bygone era.

On a few occasions, my kids have come to me at the last minute with a list of items required by some sadistic science or art project, and PJs has always come through. One time it was a dozen paint stirrers, another time steel wool and wood screws. Regarding the stirrers: the lady tending store that morning cracked open a new box of them, and insisted I take a big handful, no charge. Another time, I needed a special type of saw blade, which they didn't have in stock. Alot of businesses would try to talk you into waiting for them to order it so they could keep the sale. Clyde the owner called up Dressel's, confirmed that they had it, and sent me on my merry way down Chicago Ave to get it.

That integrity and customer service are in short supply these days at a lot of businesses, so when I find a place that does it well, I keep coming back. PJs is definitely one of those places, and I...

This is my favorite hardware store. Clyde, the owner, is the "hardware rocket scientist" and is a home improvement god. He will personally address your need/problem, explain the cause and provides the proper parts and guidance.

For weeks, I have been struggling to fix a mortise lock (pictured). If you have an older home, I am sure you have these in your house. They are considered antiques now, so a replacement would be $200 and up. And pleased think twice before you take it a part – a zillion pieces will fall out.

I stopped in Saturday and I was immediately sent to see Master Clyde. He explained what was wrong and personally put it together. My bill was for a few screws. SO PLEASE, when Clyde goes out of the way to help you, ask yourself three questions:

Did he solve a problem or fix something that was beyond your capabilities? How much time did he take? Clyde is a busy man helping everyone while running a business. Did the charge reflect the effort/time required for the services?

If your answer is “no” for question #3, provide additional compensation for the services provided by Clyde or any of his staff. Clyde would never charge you for his help and probably refuse it. So, if you can swing it, have the cashier add it to the bill. If money is tight, writing a review on Google/Yelp/doesn’t cost anything.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ―Winston...

My usual go-to spot has been Schauer's in FP. However, I have recently been going here more often because it's closer to my job. There are always plenty of staff to help you and they are friendly and knowledgeable. I recently got 15 keys made here and all of them work!! I can't say the same with other hardware stores I have gone to:( The owner helped me carry bags of salt to my car a few weeks ago, which was extremely helpful. He even special ordered a hood I needed for a stove, which was great customer service!!. The cutest note to mention is the friendly cat, Moon, who I have seen sleeping on displays and various places in the store. Parking can be a little tricky, but if you're in the area, it's an awesome store to shop in the neighborhood for all your...