Frattallone’s Ace Hardware

This is my favorite Ace location in the area. It is bigger than the other stores and is much better organized. As Raquel mentioned, the garden center is larger than most, and I love that they often have racks and racks of flowers and plants out in front of the store to advertise their large offering in the garden department. The staff here is friendly without being pushy (which is definitely different than some other Ace stores). Knowledgeable and friendly, pretty much everything you’d want from a neighborhood hardware store.
Be sure to sign up for the Ace Rewards program if you’re not a member.

Great little neighborhood hardware store focused on serving the local community and providing the best customer service. After moving to the area, we’ve frequented Frattallone’s several times for various needs from light bulbs and nails to flashlights and bug spray. It’s super clean and the service is friendly and helpful. They have a lot of items in stock, yet it doesn’t feel cluttered like some other local hardware stores I’ve been in. Plus, a friendly staff member will readily help you find what you’re looking for. You’ll pay a bit more here vs. a big box hardware store, but you’re paying for the ease and simplicity of it being right in your ‘hood and a speedy visit that will get you in and out in a matter of minutes. Well worth it.
They also feature a garden center where I purchased a patio tomato plant for our deck. Ask for Al in the garden center. He’s super helpful, had great suggestions for my needs (and that DIDN’T entail buying additional items, but using what I already had instead) and will remind you of your beloved grandpa. Oh, and by the way, the tomato plant is going crazy with tomatoes everywhere.
This is in the same small strip mall as Fat Nat’s, Bruegger’s Bagels, Frankie’s Pizza and Winnetka Liquor, so easy to consolidate several needs into one trip.