Millen Hardware

Wilmette, United States

4.2

Open now

17 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 847-251-3060
Website:
www.johnmillenhardware.com
Address:
1219 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette, IL, 60091
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
350 ftWilmette & Park
680 ftGreen Bay & Central
730 ftWilmette Metra Station
Categories:
QR code
Download QR Image Download vCard

Map

Streetview

Activate map

Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes

Today

Today 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
Open now
Local time (Wilmette) 11:57 AM Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Business hours

Monday 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
Tuesday 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
Thursday 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
Friday 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
Saturday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

Related places

You might also consider:
1
mi
Harold’s True-Value Hardware
2912 Central St
1
mi
Harold’s Industrial Supply
2912 Central St
1
mi
JC Licht Epco Paint & Decorating Center
2538 Green Bay Road
1
mi
Wilmette Hardware
129 Green Bay Rd
1
mi
Linden True Value Hardware
411 Linden Ave
1
mi
Al Bar-Wilmette Platers
127 Green Bay Rd

Vicinity

Near this location:
90
ft
Center of Creative Dance
1209 Wilmette Ave
90
ft
Rouzati Oriental Rugs
1209 Wilmette Ave
110
ft
The Village Dog
1225 Wilmette Ave
120
ft
Exotic Auto Spa
535 Green Bay Rd
130
ft
Lok-Kwan Acupuncture Qigong Shiatsu
1213 Wilmette Ave Ste 2 C
140
ft
Inner Gate Therapeutics
1213 Wilmette Ave Suite 2 C

17 reviews of Millen Hardware

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL
I moved into Wilmette in 1982 and have been using Millen ever since then. I’m on a first-​name basis with most of the clerks and never had a bad experience there. Wilmette has many old homes that are over 80 years, and mine is no exception at 110. The clerks there know what these local homes need and there is great stock. 95% of the time they have what I need for maintenance and if there is a problem with anything they take it back, no arguments. Over the years I have found products that are very useful for maintaining these Victorian homes, and at times they have added these items to their stock and when a customer comes in they recommend them. This is a great local hardware store in the traditional sense and a valuable member of the Wilmette business community.
Keep on truckin’, Millen!
Please don’t review this business if you received a freebie for writing this review, or if you’re connected in any way to the owner or employees.
Place rating: 1
Wilmette, IL
I really want to support the small local hardware store. However, this is by far the rudest and most bitter – and consistently so – group of employees I’ve ever experienced. Particularly the cashiers. As Bruce M has speculated, there must be a miserable company atmosphere that’s cultivating and/​or tolerating such attitudes. I’ve given this place about ten tries now, and from now on I will happily drive another five miles to avoid them. Their prices are too high to treat customers like this. At Home Depot I’m treated like a valued customer, and the prices are low to boot.
Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL
This is the GREATEST place!!(have no clue and can’t even imagine what that B.M. guy :(is talking about!?) They have everything you could ever imagine or need for just about any project –if you’re MacGyver, it’s a dream come true, if not the staff is right there to help, always! They have wonderful employees wearing red vest allover the place just waiting to help or asking you if you need help. The staff is full of very experienced years down to very accommodating young high school men that all understand what customer service is about… so if you love creaky wood floors and bins full of bits and pieces of hardware, and everything inbetween (kitchen towels, candles, whatever!) then you need to visit and get what you need, our what you thought you’d never find!
Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL
Rude, unhelpful staff? No way. Staff at Millen prowl the aisles continuously, offering help to every customer who comes into the store. Sometimes, it’s a little too much attention! They’re also knowledgeable and have filled me in on all kinds of things from what size plumbing tape to buy to properly installing a bolt into a brick wall. When I do make a mistake, they never quibble about returns. They did a great job replacing the screens on my doors, recommending pet-​strength which have held up well to the cat’s claws. This place is a real gem and thankfully, still in business despite the proliferation of big box stores. They stock all the hardware basics plus kitchen stuff, gardening tools and products, cleaning products (Mrs. Meyers, yay!) and some real oddities like Anti-​Monkey Butt Powder. I love the rewards program. They send us $ 5 coupons monthly. My daughter loves the trains and the candy selection.
Place rating: 1
Wilmette, IL
I moved to Wilmette 20 years ago and immediately went to Millen’s, hoping I’d found my new hardware store. The staff was rude, dismissive and generally unhelpful. I’ve gone back every few years to see if there’s been any change and its always the same. They simply DO NOT want customers in their store. I can only imagine what kind of culture exists there to warrant such low morale. I go to True Value on Linden, where the people are friendly, helpful and sincerely want to help you. Both stores are super expensive, but convenient.
Place rating: 5
Skokie, IL
This is a great store. They carry a lot of older style hardware that you need in the older homes in this area. If you can’t find something — ask. They have much more than meets the eye, and their staff is friendly and knowledgable. Prices tend to be on the high side, but I understand stocking all these items can’t be cheap, so I did not knock their score for it. Convenience is worth something too.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
This is what small town hardware stores are supposed to be! Forget Home Depot and all the rude people pushing you over, and you having to «self-​check out» as the large companies minimize their labor, and also minimize their services to me. Millen Hardware is the perfect place to stop (even as a wife with limited knowledge of what I need sometimes). The place is full of employees offering to help, and they even ask specific questions about what you plan to do with the item you need, and the often offer other suggestions, if you’re looking for any. I always appreciate the additional knowledge they offer, and I hope they are around for a long time. Support Local — Support Millen Hardware!
Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL
We have used this great down home old school hardware store forever. The team here learns to know you by name. I have not been to a large home center in years thanks to these guys (any how who wants their car run into by a cart full of lumber if all you need is a list of hardware). I cannot say enough great things about this shop — not to mention my kids love going here too.
Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL
Millen Hardware is as old-​world hardware as you can get. It’s been a fixture in Wilmette for at least 50 years – the ambiance gives it away.
They stock everything and prices are reasonable. Not low, low prices, but good. It’s a bit disheveled, but that’s what I expect from a local business that’s been around forever.
The best part of going to Millen Hardware is the customer service. There are plenty of very experienced men and women who work there that seem to know about every house project I’m working on and add valuable input.
Place rating: 5
Evanston, IL
excellent service. staff is very plentiful and are very experienced and knowledgeable gentleman and they know their stuff! one guy gave me a great set of ideas on my son’s science fair project that made the whole thing much easier. i just told him what he was doing and what i needed, and he made other suggestions that were fabulous! i always go in with weird requests for different things for my business that i am building. they always are super helpful. they inventory a wide range of products as well
Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL
Great service and a huge variety of products. While sometimes more expensive than the big box stores, the service is incredible.
Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL
Millen hardware comes to the rescue for Pinewood Derby needs. Was pleasantly surprised to find a great selection of materials for making the ‘wicked fast’ Pinewood Derby car for my Tiger scout son wants to create. They have everything you’ll need to make a winning car — blocks of wood, paint, decals, weights and lubricant.
Best of all they have a couple small scales there so you can bring your car in and weigh it so you don’t get disqualified for being overweight at the race.
Chalk another point up for Millen.
Place rating: 1
Washington, DC
usually they’re excellent, know their stuff and are on top of their game with the kind of service you used to see and still want. Tonight was another matter. Didn’t really get what I was talking about even though it was a pretty basic hardware store question and didn’t know what to do. For another store it would be ok or disappointing but these guys usually know what you want better than you do and absolutely nail it.
Place rating: 5
Wilmette, IL
Very helpful staff, and it is always easy to find someone who works there. They are really creative with their solutions sometimes, and they always know what they are talking about (unlike big box employees who will admit that they often have no background in their assigned department). They do sometimes have the best price on things, like canning supplies.
Place rating: 4
Evanston, IL
Who could not like this quintessential hardware store? It is everything the big box stores are not. You can frequently find the owner standing by the cash registers. The staff is knowledgeable, available, friendly and helpful. The prices are good and fair. (It disturbs me that people assume small store charge more. It’s not necessarily so.) One of the best things is that they have, like many small independent stores, merchandise that they’ve collected over the years, so that you can find things here that aren’t available elsewhere. Be prepared to be present, to take a breath, enjoy your surroundings and chat with a fellow customer or salesperson.
Place rating: 5
Evanston, IL
You can get lower prices at Lowe’s or Home Depot but the customer service and knowledge of employees at Millen is peerless. I don’t understand how this place can afford to have so many employees but I am happy they can. You’ll never be wandering around with no clue where to find what you want because you are almost always greeted near the door by a friendly person eager to help. If you are stuck with a problem they’ll be happy to make suggestions. You’ll swear you just stepped out of a time machine into the 1950’s at Millen. I ride a bicycle there but parking for cars is never a problem.
Don’t forget to pick up an ice cold soda for 79 cents near the checkout!
Place rating: 5
Evanston, IL
This is an old school hardware store with excellent customer service. Rarely do you have to look for help. Usually someone asks you within your first couple of minutes (literally) of being in the store if you need help. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable! Not enough businesses like this one.