Cole Hardware

San Francisco, United States

3.8

Open now

30 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 415-319-6705
Website:
www.colehardware.com
Address:
956 Cole St, San Francisco, CA, 94117
b/t Parnassus Ave & Carl St
Cole Valley
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
280 ftCole & Carl St‎
300 ft43, 37
850 ftCarl & Stanyan St‎
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Dogs Allowed
Yes

Today

Today 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Open now
Local time (San Francisco) 8:48 AM Friday, June 13, 2025

Business hours

Monday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Our staff is totally dedicated to providing you with the most helpful and best advice possible on just about anything that you need. In addition to service, our store has a great selection of hardware, housewares, garden supplies including a beautiful selection of plants, and a fabulous paint department featuring Benjamin Moore Paints, including Aura and Natura, both which are environmentally friendly and low to no VOC.

Seasonally the store has a great selection of Weber barbecues, heaters, fans and air conditioners, holiday décor, including live and cut Christmas trees.

We also offer our Home Repair Referral Service which connects you with talented tradespeople of all types: locksmiths, plumbers, contractors, painters and more.

As a Green Certified business, we are dedicated to helping you live a more sustainable lifestyle, offering many environmentally friendly products, and guidance too.

We’re here to help you.

History

Established in 1920.

Cole Hardware began in 1920 and purchased by our founder, Dave Karp in 1961. Since then we have grown to 4 stores in the City. We specialize in offering great customer service and meeting the needs of our community. Dave’s motto: «There are no strangers here, just friends we haven’t met!» greets everyone as they walk into our stores.

In 1989 we started our Home Repair Referral Service, which connects our customers with excellent tradespeople of all types. It has been a valued service and can be reached at 415−753−2653 #3. Plumbers, 24 hour locksmith, electricians, contractors, painters and more.

Our downtown store, Cole Fox Hardware on 4th St. directly across from the Mariott Hotel, joined the Cole Hardware family in 1995. This unique store serves those working downtown, commercial customers and tourists too.

Our 29th & Mission location opened in 1984 and our location at Polk & Green opened in 2003.

In 2007 we became the first Green Certified hardware stores in America.

Meet the Manager

Shel K.

Manager

A high school classmate and good friend of Cole Hardware’s owner Rick Karp, Shel joined Cole Hardware in the late ’70’s, left to live abroad for a few years and came back to us in 1987 as the Store Manager of our Cole Street flagship store. Shel continues to work tirelessly to make Cole Hardware the best that it can be. His leadership of his staff and dedication to customer service has contributed greatly to Cole Hardware’s reputation and brand in San Francisco.

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30 reviews of Cole Hardware

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Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
Worst referral I ever got. The builders Cole recommended kept «upselling» me. When I finally declined the next suggestion, the builders just left, with no communication, and my kitchen ceiling still ripped up – even though the builders told me they would finish it. So I got in touch with Cole, and they said they had another client who had the same problem with these builders, but Cole had paid fully to fix their problem. So, I don’t understand why Cole still recommended those builders! But for me, I had to get my own builder to finish the job — not about to use another referral from Cole — and Cole paid me only *half* the cost to fix the ceiling.
Place rating: 5
San Jose, CA
I appreciate the great help I received from Chris Jenson (I think he is a manager) and I had a serious problem with my toilet and didn’t want to spend mega bucks on a plumber. Chris calmly explained how to fix the problem with a universal repair kit and was very helpful in explaining how to install it. I love this store and the helpful staff and check out the local cafes while you are in the neighborhood.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Chris cut a new key from broken pieces I handed to him. Cole Hardware Sunday early evening hours saved a $pecialist call. ‘Nuff said.
Place rating: 1
Daly City, CA
As a new resident of San Francisco and the Cole Valley, I took to Unilocal to help me look for a handy hardware store. Looking at the reviews it seemed worth looking into. I usually used Unilocal as resource but sadly I needed to express my experience. I came into Coles Hardware looking for kitchen containers, storage bins, tools to help with house hold tasks and just some items to help start up a new apartment. So it was clear I was going to spend a lot on this visit.
The store is small and cute, the perfect city sized hardware store. As my basket slowly filled with random items, I remembered I needed a pocket knife. However, I was trying to get some help and direction but was incredibly disappointed. There was one employee that clearly lacked customer service. He was very rude, lacked eagerness to help and most importantly unapproachable. The employee was tall, from Caucasian descent, kinda not-​put together, slick back hair and named Chris. He might even be in management like a supervisor or assistant manager. I would think being in customer service you would at lease be friendly! He seemed so occupied and lacked simple customer service qualities. First, I approached him because I clearly needed help usually you would expect the representative approach the customer. He just said Hi and then just brushed me off!!! He got a call over his ear piece and just left and never returned. I understand something maybe going on in the store. But he was so rude and very very disrespectful. That instant I dropped my basket and just walked out the store.
This one experience left an ever lasting taste of disgust. It made me feel invisible, unrecognizable, and just unimportant. It was just an extremely horrible customer service experience. The saddest thing is I’m a high believer in supporting the small «Mom & Pops» stores. I just wish the customer service was better! It saddens me to post this, but hopefully it will help the store and help express my concerns. The store had a great location and did have all the items I wanted… I just wish service was better than my experience would be so different.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I always end up in Cole Hardware even if I don’t need anything. You can get anything from wood, tools, plants, cleaning supplies and bbq’s here. They even have cool little gifts and toys.
Everyone is super helpful and will go out of there way to get you what you need. Hands down the best hardware store in the SF!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Thanks to Mike! He patiently gave me very detailed instructions on using a plumbing Auger to clear my very bad clogged bathtub drain! It worked perfectly, as he instructed. I had never used one before, and I just followed what he told me to do. I had to use it a couple of times to get it far enough into the drain and it pulled out the clog! Thanks for saving me a big plumbing bill! Mike is a gem! Over the years, I’ve been helped by several wonderful staff at Cole hardware. I love this store!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
This review is directed specifically at the Fourth Street location where my husband and I have been shopping for the last few years. We are both regular customers because we appreciate «old school» customer service. We have acquired very delicate wall hangings which require very specific hardware to put up safely and securely. We also have very unusual lighting fixtures which require special bulbs. Each time we visit the store we are assisted by very friendly and knowledgeable staff and have walked out with exactly what we needed to get the job done. I highly recommend Cole Hardware. Even with the passing of the father, the son and his staff clearly continue the tradition of quality customer service with a smile.
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
Helpful hardware store right down the street from where we were staying. Perfect for making spare keys and crammed full of all the important things. Good place.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
The service and selection at Cole Hardware is amazing. It’s a neighborhood store that has old world charm. Hardware, housewares, garden — they have it all or can order if for you if needed. The staff is knowledgeable and very helpful pointing you in the right direction or answering questions on how to fix things. Even if you don’t need anything, it’s a place to visit — and doing so you’ll most likely walk out with something. Be on the lookout for their sidewalk sales as you can pick up some great deals.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
4.5 stars. They have good service overall — and very knowledgeable — (some, well, some less so), but quality products, and their prices are in line with what they should be for SF. Could I find something cheaper elsewhere? Sure. But as long as I get some discount (coupons, promotions, part of their «club»), at least then I feel I’m paying a fair price. Without that, it’s a bit expensive, but I do appreciate the convenience. Mostly, I feel their staff is knowledgeable in helping find the right products needed to get the job done — even for «do-​it-​yourselfers» like me — with very little skill. Cole is reliable, friendly, professional, and knowledgeable.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Cole Hardware stores are wonderful indeed. Especially for San Franciscans who live in daily episodes of ‘This Old House’ – my house is 105 years old – they have everything. One of their best services are their ‘recommended tradesmen’, who do everything from carpentry, double hung window repair, locksmiths, etc. Marc Estoque, master locksmith, is one of these, always on time, exceptional work, all at reasonable prices. Highly recommend.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
We recently had Cole Hardware’s in-​house locksmith, Marc, come by to fix a broken lock. He was awesome! Prompt, friendly, and knowledgeable (this guy really knows his stuff!), he had our lock fixed in no time. We would definitely go back to Cole Hardware if we had another problem.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
A nice neighborhood hardware store. All staff are extremely helpful and knowledgable. Get a rewards card! I M notorious for losing my receipts and they can look up your purchases for return by your phone number! I’m starting to do some creative home improvements and I see some fun additions in Cole Hardware!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
The best store EVER, and not just for hardware! This store is a neighborhood staple, a dearly beloved gem tucked in cute little Cole Valley. Stepping in is like stepping back through time, before the modern aesthetic of stores became wide and vast and white and glassy. Cole Hardware is cozy and cramped and cluttered, a magical treasure trove of all manner of practical and wondrous things.
Since moving to the neighborhood, we’ve looked nowhere else for the vast majority of our daily supplies. They have kitchenware, cleaning stuff, storage, camping, power tools, vacuums, odds and ends, beautiful Edison light bulbs, etc etc. And my personal favorite department is their nursery and gardening equipment! So many beautiful plants — their air plants are top notch: healthy, robust, and very reasonably priced!
The staff here is wonderful. Sometimes there’s not enough of them to go around but they are always helpful and really go out of your way to find exactly what you’re looking for. This location also hosts monthly happy hour nights with giveaways and fun workshops and deals. The number of places where you can feel such an overwhelming sense of community is sadly diminishing in this city, but here, it is very much alive! And I hope it will be here for decades to come.
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
Dear Cole Hardware,
I’m afraid I find myself in the position of having to break up with you. When we met 15 years ago, you were the perfect solution for the loss of Goodman’s. You were helpful, knowledgeable and honest. I loved sharing my great experience with others, I was a walking ad for you. But you got lazy, sloppy and gruff. Now your favorite word is NO and you say it BEFORE the end of the question. No we don’t fix lamps anymore, no we don’t carry that paint, no we don’t have a referral for that, before you knew what I was asking. I’m done. Now you tell me a paint, you are suppose to carry, swore 2 years ago you would carry and even still have on your shelves you don’t have. Because you are a SPECIAL Ace hardware, that doesn’t have to follow their rules. You act worse than Home Depot. Because you are arrogant, but no longer have the experience and knowledge to be that way. My advise is if you want quality, knowledgeable hardware staff without an attitude, drive to the Peninsula. BTW– I will be contacted Ace directly as well, because I’m pretty sure they have criteria for their stores you are not following.
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
If you open at 8, OPEN AT 8. If i can make it across the city to get to your store and you just have to unlock the front door… UNLOCK THE FRONT DOOR
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
I was hankering for a succulent garden as per all the hip kids ever so I headed to Cole to get some. They were $ 5 for a 4″, pretty standard, but there was a great selection of herb plants right next to them for $ 4 each!
I got some basics: chives, basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, and oregano but they also had lavender, strawberry and peppers if you are an advanced herb gardener.
I know succulents are in right now but you can’t eat them.
They had even more plants in the back of the store — air plants, Venus flytraps, plants on plants on plants. That’s where I got a little tray that PERFECTLY holds 3 herbs. Please see my picture of my burlap DIY herb tray and be in awe of the Pinterest worthiness.
It just happened to be BBQ demo day! I shamelessly wolfed down chicken wings and pizza pretending to be interested in a grill for my apt with no patio.
ALSO there’s a tamale man right outside! Maybe there is a separate Unilocal page for him. $ 5 for 2, he had 5 flavors that day. I had the sweet corn which was SO good. He told me he’s been there for 7 years.
Neighborhood hardware store + neighborhood tamale man = win.
*** frequent customer card — spend $ 100 get $ 5 back, you also get a $ 5 of a $ 25 future purchase when you sign up YAY MORE HERBS FOR ME or maybe just replacements for when these die
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Best staff I’ve ever encountered at a hardware store, especially Amarilis, who was working the cash register — possibly one of the nicest persons I have ever had to speak with. Great supplies, reasonable prices. This is a great hardware store.
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
This is a review for the referral service only. After trying several times, beginning in 2009, I am giving up totally on this service. They referred me to a furniture refinisher who was never available, to another refinsher who turned out to be a handyman who did not have his own shop but was happy to do the work at my place — no. He sounded too creepy on the phone. And the third time I tried for this particular service the person on the phone told me that «this is hard but try XYZ» (not the real name).

The last time I tried the referral service, for a different home service, within the last couple of weeks, I asked that they provide me with the name (s) and I would vet the business myself. Guess what — they didn’t listen to me and turned over my email address to the company! Luckily I vetted them, found that there were some questionable practices and didn’t contact them. Of course they contacted me and I told them I would not be asking them for any services at all.
To try to smooth over my ruffled feathers I was offered a Gift Certificate — well no thank you very much. I don’t intend to avail myself of anything having to do with them.
I’m very disappointed in their advertising how wonderful Cole Hardware’s referral service is when they are a complete bust in my opinion. I question just how much they actually know about the providors, and how current their information is.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I went to drop off some electronics to recycle after a move, not even to purchase anything. Not only did they gladly accept my box of electronics and a heavy computer, they offered to carry it all in AND break down the empty boxes I had in my car to recycle, saving me a trip to another recycling center. They were very happy to help and did things they didn’t need to. I didn’t even spend money there but they certainly have my business in the future.
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
Great neighborhood hardware store that’s well-​stocked and also carries a nice variety of home goods, too. Some reviews here complain about the high prices, but this is a local shop with employees that are helpful and knowledgable about painting, electrical and so on. I’d rather my money go to them than to a big box store where they couldn’t give a crap about my hard-​earned dollar.
I shop here because Cole Hardware always has what I’m looking for and I choose to support a local business.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Very helpful and has a wide variety of goods for the size of store they are.
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
Too expensive, but this place has just about everything a hardware store should carry. If time is valuable, and you need something quick, this place usually has it.
One nice service they offer the community is taking your old leftover paint. That’s much appreciated and it’s good business while also being environmentally friendly… makes me more likely to spend my money here.
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
I shop here often but only because it’s close. Most of the cashiers and staff are friendly but today was different. Admittedly I just wanted some quarters, but I asked as soon as I got there if they offered cash back and the cashier by the door said stoically, «Yes.» So I bought some household goods and when he rang me up he didn’t explain what to do correctly so I ended up paying for my things without gettin’ cash back. Alright. Whatever. I’m not upset yet. So I run and get some paper towels to try again. I said, «Can I get two dollars in quarters.» He replied, «I don’t have any.» Haha! Okay now I’m sad. C’mon now! I’m a cashier; I know that if you don’t have quarters in your drawer, you’re a screw up. He was just being a little lazy b**** cashier. Well whatever…
Seems like they could try a little harder to offer some positive service. A smile here and there doesn’t hurt either. Thanks Omar???
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
My neighborhood hardware store, one can always rely on. Small place
with all the right stuff
Their website is not as useful as it could be. As I’m looking for
a simple hose bibb, there are no products listed on the web site
so that I can compare with other local mega hardware stores.
Therefore two stars for the website being useless today
Place rating: 5
Hamburg, Germany
On a whim I wanted to repot some tiny succulents and really had no experience with materials or where to start. Bill was soooooo helpful! He helped my friend and I with the basic materials to start with and we were able to report and bring home or plants in no time! Will be sure to come back for all my gardening needs! Thank you again for helping repot my first plants for my home!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Right up front: Apex Plumbing Co (Jim Khabay). Quality plumber, honest, smart. Referred by Cole Hardware. One of the first rate services that a hardware store can offer… skilled contractors and pros. And Cole does this better than anybody. We had that crisis: a drip that turned to a leak. Called Cole… referred to Jim Khabay… showed up within hours… created a temporary solution for the leak (we needed a new faucet)…worked with us to find the kitchen faucet… installed. Done. Trust Cole Hardware.
PS Jim the Plumber did not break any tile (this is a wall mount kitchen faucet). That’s no easy measure. That’s care. That’s quality.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Pros: they are nearby, they have the weird and particular things that I need to buy, the people who work there are pretty nice, they have a UCSF discount of 10%, it saves me a trip to lowes or home depot.
Cons: the prices for many things are higher than at the mega stores (but you also don’t have to drive to the mega stores or search through 200,000 square feet to find what you want), the narrow aisles might be difficult for those with physical impairments to navigate during busy hours, and parking could be a little hit-​or-​miss if you were to drive there.
Most importantly, I can get silver polish, spray mounting adhesive and a bathtub hair trap in one quick trip to a store down the street. If I didn’t get the UCSF discount, I might take a star off for pricing… but they also regularly have sales that are advertised in their newsletter/​circular, so there are still deals to be had.
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
Oh my holy crap this place is a rip-​off. 2x4s for $ 5. Boxes of screws for $ 7. These things are like $ 2⁄3 at Lowes…
Of course, Lowes is a 20 minute drive away. And there’s always traffic down there. So they can charge you $ 5 for a $ 2 piece of wood…
But I’m not happy about it.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
When I first moved to Cole Valley my landlord told me that Cole Hardware was the place to go for EVERYTHING. She couldn’t of been more right! To the late night emergency plumbing emergencies and the last minute things that you need, they have it! How they cram so much stuff in such a small store… I don’t know but they do! :D
I especially love how attentive they are. You need something… ask. I swear they have to be quizzed because every employee knows where everything is!
Can’t help but love how kind they are too! Especially Amber. She always puts a smile on your face.