ABC Distributors

Went by last weekend to check them out and the building is empty. As of October 16, 2015 this business is closed.

Really cool spot, though because it’s not tagged as a hardware store on Unilocal,I hadn’t found it for more than a year … and I live like a mile away.
They have any kind of wood you could possible want, along with a very nice hardware store with almost everything you could need. It doesn’t have the sprawl of the Home Depots and Lowe’s, but when you need a drill bit or a pack of sandpaper, this is the spot.
I docked it one star because the weekend hours aren’t convenient for the home handyman. It closes at 1 p.m. on Saturday and isn’t open at all on Sundays, which is when I’m doing most home projects. Employees need weekends off, too, so this means I’ll still find my way to Home Depot occasionally.

It is amazing what a quick Unilocal search can do when you need some basic essentials.
I needed to get some nuts and bolts for my dolly. Somehow two of them unhinged from moving from one apartment to another. I didn’t notice it until after the fact. I zipped over to ABC Distributors to get what I needed.
Darrell was more than willing to get the supplies I needed to fix my dolly. He even took it a step further by installing them for me in the dolly saving me the trouble. I greatly appreciated his help.
I can’t say anything about the lumber or for much else other than the hardware store. They offer your basic essentials. As previously mentioned this is one of the few mom and pop shops left that has been in the area for more than 40 years.
They will be getting my business again in the future.

Made two home depot stops with zero help– ABC is a Great little place. Hidden, with some of the nicest hardware/​lumber people I’ve ever dealt with. Highly recommend!!!

Great place! I was ordering insulation. It was an odd size. They special ordered it for me and it was a lot cheaper than either of the big box stores. Very nice people to work with and great pricing.

I LOVE THIS PLACE. PLEASE VISIT AND THEN TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!!!
Hardware, lumber, gravel/​sand, paint, tools, lighting, plumbing, landscaping, gutters, roofing – basically anything you will find at Home Depot (except plants). I tell everyone I know to give their business to ABC Distributors, conveniently located just off Rt 395 in in the Shirlington area of Arlington, VA. Here’s why:
Way easier to shop than Home Depot. Very laid back. No parking lot traffic to fight; no traffic at all, as a matter of fact, since it is off the beaten path in a real neighborhood. Literally 30 seconds off 395 if that’s a convenient way for you to get there.
ABC is a GREAT small business whose owners work there everyday along with extremely proactive and helpful staff. These guys and gals have been in the trades/​hardware supply business forever — it’s literally their life, and they are happy you came to their store and it shows. While they sell to tradesmen, they are cordial and friendly to anyone who walks in, and will help you find exactly what you need. If they don’t have it, they’ll order it. Call ahead if you need it fast.
It a «real» hardware/​lumberyard. And yes, as a previous reviewer mentioned, it’s not for everyone. It’s not all neat and clean, but it is ‘real’. You can either wander around and browse, or a lively staff member (locals who have been working there for decades) will take you straight to what you need, cut it to order (lumber, rebar, fencing), and load it for you. The owners are known to cut a deal with you on the spot for less than perfect pieces of lumber, etc.
Their pricing is as good as or better than Home Depot. They offered me excellent pricing on an order of Western Cedar last year. If you call looking for something, they will walk their considerable yard to confirm they have it, and will call you back immediately. And then apologize for not calling you sooner.
This is one of the very few mom and pop hardware/​lumber yards that still exist in the DC region, and it will most definitely be lost if local folks don’t make an effort to buy from them whenever possible. Their interest and expertise lie in their core business, not in advertising and marketing, so it’s up to people who believe in sustaining GREAT local businesses to get the word out and put their dollars in. And it is no small thing that, by shopping there, you make sure your money stays in and benefits the local community instead of going to enrich a distant megacorporation.
Give a try! I think you’ll love it too.

did not even realize this was there! pretty much a huge lumber yard and hardware shop right off of shirlington rd. the price of the lumber is a bit higher than home depot or lowes, but the quality is much better. plus with only being a mile from our house, its MUCH closer for last minute items we may need. yay for supporting small family owned businesses in the area.

This is a great little hardware store. It’s small but has the basics. I have a couple friends in the carpentry business that said that their lumbar yard has good deals, but plan on hand-​picking everything since they don’t take the best care of it all. The other issue with this place is the hours, since they close at 5pm during the week. So, it’s really only useful for contractors and people who can walk to it typically. As a DIY-​er, who can walk there during a lunch break, as an alternative to the half-​hour traffic jam to home depot, it’s a gem!

Great local place with knowledgeable staff. Had exactly what we needed and and was so close by! Extremely excited that we found this place.

I moved to this neighborhood when I was a kid and never heard of nor visited this place until now. A good ol’ hardware store with knowledgeable folks working there. Infinitely better than Home Depot and has that nice lived-​in hardware store feel.
They also appear to have a lumber yard building attached in the building across the parking lot.
The item I purchased was priced at half of what I I saw the same item on sale for in Boston.

Remember when hardware stores weren’t as big as city blocks? When you bought something, you made a connection with the owner or someone with a stake in the thing. I thought they were all gone and then I found this place. It’s not for everyone and it’s not perfect. But as I stood in line (a very short one) an older guy walked by me, gave me a nod… and then patted my shoulder like a kindly uncle. Now I realize that is not a big deal, but I also got one on one help as I looked for things — help I didn’t have to beg for and, although they didn’t always have the biggest selection of everything, they did have some things I couldn’t find at the big faceless stores. It’s also near the Beanie Weenie… or is it the Weenie Beanie… so that’s a good thing, too.
This was the only place where I could find untreated cedar board for building raised beds. They even ordered more (out of season) when I needed more.