Clarks Ace Hardware

If you are looking for a hardware store where customer service still matters then this is the place. I’m always happy with the level of customer service they provide, unlike the bigger stores.

I am one of those people that love a hardware store. That being said, I dread going to the big box hardware stores.
That is why I love Clark’s Ace in Ellicott City. The staff if so helpful and available. You can look in three directions and see six employees and they are all smiling and ready to wait on you. They just have great customer service in my experience
They have absolutely never let me down when I went there looking for something, and in fact, they stock things that I didn’t think hardware stores stocked anymore.
It is a longer drive for me to go here than the big-​box hardware stores but boy is it worth it. I cannot recommend it enough.

I love this store. I live in Columbia and there are several places closer to me where I could buy hardware. But more and more often I’m going to route 40 to go to Clark’s. They have a fascinating selection and many extremely helpful employees. In the past two weeks a man in the electric dept went out of his way to provide extensive help. Today I took in a non working light fixture which had a sticker on it implying the fluorescent tube could probably not be changed. However he was able to get the old one out and put the new one in. I bought several other items while I was there. I did ask to see the manager and told her how much I like the store.

Super friendly and helpful staff. Being a woman walking into a hardware store it is sometimes difficult finding a place that can help you out and answer your questions. The staff here has always been professional and helpful and I would recommend this place to anyone!

Friendliest and most knowledgable customer service I’ve ever experienced from a hardware store. And they stock the more obscure parts. I was able to find a part that let me fix my outdoor faucet in 15 minutes. If I’d gone with the suggestion of the larger hardware stores, I would have had to likely call in a plumber to help replace the whole thing.

The worst customer service experience here. 6 guys standing around doing absolutely nothing and didn’t even ask to help carry this heavy item to the register or my car. The worst part was they were all staring at me, so uncomfortable! Pretty bad customer service. I guess getting paid to stand around is better than actually helping a customer. I would give zero stars.

This store seems to keep much needed items in stock while the big box stores struggle. You can always count on this Ace store!

COMPLETELY RUDE manager. Wow, I am appalled at how she treated me. I drove all the way from DC to pick up mason jars they had on hold for me. I needed them for an event and today was the last day I could pick them up. I was there (so I thought) because my gps said «arrived» but I found myself in front of Ace Hardware store. I was confused because I thought the name was Clarks so when I called to ask for a description of the building, I had a hard time getting the manager to understand my question. I finally asked «are you near Ace Hardware»? (This store is also off of Baltimore National Pike) she responded «…I have NO idea what Ace Hardware is». (Come to find out, their store is called Clarks ACE Hardware. She is an idiot). Then she asked me what road I was on and I told her «Baltimore National Pike». She said «You are no where near us. I have no idea where you are» with the rudest attitude possible.
I tried to ask a more clarifying question but she hung up on me because she said the store was about to close. I was SO frustrated. I had put the address in my gps, I was ON Baltimore National Pike, where they are apparently located and had driven almost an hour in traffic from DC! What the heck. I am NEVER shopping there. I think she should be fired.

They have become my goto hardware source. The staff is very well trained and is able to answer the most detailed or arcane question. I went in looking for an insecticide containing a particular chemical and the employee knew which product had it instantly. Impressive.
It’s happened before. Once I was looking for a fastener that I could only describe, I didn’t know what it was called. Bam, the guy at the hardware desk knew it and showed me where to find it (it was a post screw).
They also have parts for both my Big Green Egg and my Weber Gas Grill.

I bought a wood stove insert from them a few years ago. They answered all my questions, were nice as could be… and then I had trouble using it. (Turns out it’s more complicated than just chucking wood in and striking a match — our grandparents weren’t such dummies after all, eh?)
_​They sent someone over to my house to teach me how to use it._
_​TWICE_​.
This is not at all unusual for this place, and the prices are very competitive with a big chain that doesn’t really care if you live or die right there in one of the aisles, trying to find a screw they don’t even carry. Clark’s has it, and will walk you over to the bin and ask if you have the right tool for it.
Spend your money here, because they deserve it.

This was one of the old Ma and Pa stores that struggled along in the face of Home Depot and Lowe’s opening. Then they joined in with the national chain, Ace. They still have that old hardware store feel, it’s still the Clark family and the helpfulness is unbelievable. They are very knowledgable and provide services nobody else does, like custom screens. I love this place and feel a real loyalty.

Paint paint paint and more paint!!!
Located on Rte 40 pretty in HoCo. Pretty easy to see from the road.
I liked this store, everyone was so very helpful, and they have an awesome selection of the Benjamin Moore paints that I needed to decorate! The staff were knowledgeable and able to assist me with all of my questions.
I’m not sure how often I would return, as it is out of the way for me, but it is good to know that it is there as an option.

Have been going here for years. I love this store. The staff is so friendly and helpful. The service is quick. The prices are comparable. Mr. Clark is so nice and he is there and cares. They can answer all your hardware questions accurately.

This place is great. They have everything a man could ask for. Everything has a really american made vibe.

This place is awesome. The people there really know what they’re talking about, and are very friendly as well. My old Canon film camera was falling apart — the screws that held the base to the body fell off, and I was having a hard time finding a camera store that could fix such an old camera or a hardware store that carried screws of that small size. The guy in Hardware helped me identify the problem, grabbed a screwdriver and an appropriate-​sized screw, and I was out of the store in five minutes. Best part was that this fix (which probably would have cost a fortune at any camera store) cost me less than a quarter. He not only fixed the camera by applying hardware methods and tools but at the same time was careful to not damage the interior in the process. All the workers seemed very knowledgable!

For being a local place, family friendly, easy to work with on the commercials, they must leave actual SERVICE for your items out on purpose since it is terrible. They where very easy to work with to buy a new Stihl MS362 Chainsaw, 3 extra blades, and a plastic carry box, and had it all in stock even. I guess when you are handing them close to $ 900 they are very helpful. But then I needed 4 chainsaw blades sharpened that I dropped off on Tuesday the 16^th at 4 pm and was told they would be ready in a couple days. No problem we had someone heading out that way on Thursday or Friday, since its 20 minutes from our shop its not a simple drive. We sent someone out Thursday mid day and low and behold they are not ready. So Thursday afternoon we called just to be sure they would be ready and where now told they won’t be ready till 5 pm on Friday. 20 minutes from work making it a 45 minutes drive back home is great on Friday nights. The service counter guy told me to just come get them and get my money back (yes they where pre paid) and take them elsewhere… Gee thanks after having them since Tuesday. When I got the manager on the phone he could do nothing but apologize for the parts guy rudeness and explained to me that they would be ready by 5 on Friday after I had already said that is not what I was told and that would not work for us after making a trip out there already. We will NEVER use that store again and I am sorry they got our money in the first place. FINCH service turns them around in 1 day. You will pay $ 4.75 more for the excellent service and if they are closer use them.

I’ve been searching every Home Depot within a 10 mile radius around my house for wood stove pellets. Then I thought of calling Clark’s. a nice human answered the phone & immediately told me they have enough pellets to fill my request. That was so simple. Why didn’t I think of them first?

My husband and I have been to this location multiple times recently and every time have been treated spectacularly! The employees are knowledgable and eager to help. They all seem to know the store well and never referred us to someone else when we asked where something was located. Like Rob N. said, when they asked if we needed any help, they actually meant it. Instead of simply pointing us in the general direction of what we were looking for, they walked us right over to whatever it was and would answer any further questions we had.
Our most recent visit was to purchase a chain saw. We were approached by a friendly woman and, to be honest, at first I was thinking, «hmmm, I don’t know if a woman is going to know that much about chain saws.» I was SO wrong. She knew the ins and outs of every detail from size to price to parts, etc. After we made the purchase, she said she would have it assembled and we would get a brief instruction session. Again, I was thinking that some Paul Bunion type burly man would come out back and show us how to use it. WRONG AGAIN! This lovely woman assembled the chainsaw and carried it out back where she proceeded to crank it up show my husband how to use this fine tool like she had been a professional logger in a previous life! I think by the end of the demo, my husband was halfway intimidated, at least I know I was! I can’t remember her name but she made our chainsaw purchasing experience a pleasant and memorable one! Thanks!!!
We will be back!

Clarks is the only hardware store for me. I recently bought a house this year that needed some work and i needed to purchase some pretty large ticket items (a grill, a lawnmower, hedgetrimmer). I decided to give clarks a shot and was quite happy with their service. I was asked by multiple employees if i had any questions and they promptly and accurately answered them. I ended up buying a Weber grill which ive been completely pleased with, they didnt have the one i wanted in stock, but had the floor model, which i was fine with and they discounted delivery and the price because it was the floor model. No issues at all with a full summer of use. I got a black and decker lawnmower which ended up having issues, but with a simple trip to the store they offered me a full refund or a replacement, i chose a different mower and have been quite happy with it. I have since been converted and when possible will shop at Clarks for all my needs. Their prices are right on with most other places out there (Home depot, Lowes), and if you have a clarks Ace reward card they send out coupons with cash value depending on how much you spend there. With all my purchases i must have gotten 50 or 60 dollars in coupons good for anything in the store. Most of the Clarks brand product is good quality and is usually on sale to Ace rewards members (free to sign up). Unlike other places, i have never been talked to rudely, ignored or talked down to. In the cases where their prices are a little higher, well its worth the service and having a face to face with someone who knows what they are doing. I can’t believe i haven’t gone here sooner.

Hooray for the beleaguered independently owned hardware store, in the age of mega-​chain home centers. Clarks ACE had the obscure little doohickey I needed to find, when other places looked at me like I was insane. Their staff was friendly. When someone asked if they could help, they really meant it. When they *did* help, they knew what they were doing. If you’re sick of trying to navigate the big boys, checking out your own merch ’cause they only keep two manned registers open, and struggling to find anything in the mess those stores usually are, give this place a try. Worth the drive if the home centers can’t fill your bill.