Hilti Store - Elmhurst

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 hardware needs!

1st time placing an online order for pick up at this store. After researching, their pricing was better, and they had the exact model # IN STOCK that I wanted, not a similar item like the big box store was trying to offer. The order was placed at 1:20pm. I received the email that it was ready for pick up at 1:55pm. I didn't walk through the store, but there were quite a few people in there. The lady at the counter was very pleasant. She greeted me with a smile, located my order, and sent me on my way. The process was seamless and easy. I've never given much thought into where I get my items from, but it just makes sense to go to the smaller locations now. I appreciate these stores a lot more than I once did. I'll be back.

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 keep returning.