Aquarius Hardware & Houseware

This is the best store on the Upper West Side. Its a hardware and housewares store where the people who work there really know about carpentry, plumbing, painting, etc and they can actually answer your questions intelligently. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted with a smile by someone who can help you. There is NO other hardware/​houseware store in the area where this is true. They are fair, and if you ever have a problem with something you buy there, they make it right. We are losing small businesses in this neighborhood and we all need to support Aquarius so when their lease is up, they can afford to stay! Its a gem.

Whoa! Way, way overpriced. Light bulbs were literally half the price at Ace Hardware on Columbus. Go in there and people are sitting around eating. Unprofessional and sort of disgusting.

Live this place and their super helpful staff. Always leave with what I came for and often more

Aquarius is great, everything about it. The staff has always been helpful and patient and friendly; the selection and stock is shocking for the square footage; and the prices tend to be the best of what I’ve seen – not just in the neighborhood but whole city.
This place is an absolute gem.

Amazing service. Mike will hook you people up. So friendly, and don’t cut corners. Even give military discount!!! Gotta love them

Has some nice things here but very overpriced. Can really find the same things elsewhere for much less. Ok if you’re in a pinch and have to get something and can’t shop around. Staff is ok.

When I am eventually helped here, they’re usually nice. And they’ll find what I’m looking for — but if you need that extra mile of someone to walk you through the steps of the project or double check with you what sort of walls you have or whatever — and make sure you have everything you need to get it done right, then I suggest going a block up to Ace. In my experience Aquarius is good for the person who is already somewhat handy or you just need a couple lightbulbs and match up some screws — but for others you’re flying solo.
Separate from hardware they do have a large selection of housewares if you need something quickly and in the neighborhood.
Note — they don’t open until 10 on the weekends — which seems strange since imagine that’s when most people are doing their home projects.

Always reliable with everything I need

Usually the best place to go for hardware needs on the UWS. Not the largest selection but usually have what I need. Service is really good though, especially compared to most small hardware stores in the area where employees know nothing and or could care less. Good prices too compared to Metro on 96^th and others.

Good selection and prices for the area. Angel is very helpful… answered all my questions and was more then willing to help out. Great staff overall.

As I am septogenarian, you can imagine the effort it took me to walk ¾ mile to replace keys at Aquarius. They overcharged me and to make matters worse they offered no service or kindness. The staff is Spanish speaking and spends their time jabbering in this foreign language. As the keys did not work upon reaching home, I phone and told them that I needed someone to come and replace then with working ones. The staff severed the telephone call. There is no reason to go here if you want to be treated in a human manner.

i was so excited when I came across this store. Beautiful selection of home goods and had a lot of what I was looking for. However, staff not the friendliest.
I was never greeted or asked if I needed help with anything. Which is fine, I would rather shop on my own and ask for help when I need it. However, when I went to go check out, the lady who rung me out never said hi, asked how I was or if I found everything OK– the usual checkout procedure. Instead she was having conversation with other worker in another language. I can get over that.
What I found most disturbing was I spent over $ 300 there and she never said thank you or have a good day.
Furthermore, I went to go return an item because it did not work and store hours say until 4pm on Sunday, I was there a quarter till 4 and the store was closed.

Absolutely the friendliest, most knowledgable stuff I’ve encountered. The store is very large as well, a rarity in Manhattan. The only downside is their prices which, although lower than anything else I’ve found on the UWS, still reflect its UWS location.

I found a lot of awesome housewares here, including lamp shades and many types of kitchen organizers. Didn’t check out the hardware side, but I’m surprised by how large their selection is for the space. Prices a little steep, but they are competitive with other stores in the area.

Ooooh… I didn’t know this was here. Very convenient and well-​stocked. The guy knew his stuff on picture-​hanging hardware. Prices only a dimes or so more than Home Depot, but so much more conveniently-​located.

This is the best hardware store on the UWS by far. Their stock probably isn’t different from other stores but their employees are. Tell them what you’re trying to do or fix and they’ll come up with a better and less expensive solution than anything you’d have found on your own.

I’ve lived in the neighborhood for nine years, gone to every hardware store within a twenty block radius, and Aquarius is the best. The staff always have time to help me with whatever project I’m working on, and endless patience for my more strange requests. I once unsuccessfully scoured the neighborhood for picture frame nails (a specialty nail that’s thinner than a finishing nail) and Aquarius was the only place to suggest alternatives.
As for the previous poster’s bad experience with keys, I had exactly the opposite experience. I’ve had many keys made here over the years — they work and they last. But I once had keys made at Ace on Columbus and they actually bent within a few months of use.
The prices are fair. I’m usually shopping for hardware stuff so I can’t speak to housewares. Sometimes they beat their competitors, sometimes they are a bit more, but basically they fall in line with neighborhood prices. I often check prices here and then at Ace, and it’s ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ who has the better price. (Though the Ace brand products are indeed a bargain.)

I have never tried to get keys made there, so I couldn’t say anything about that, but with everything else at Aquarius I have found them to be extremely helpful and accommodating. The man named Angel who is usually in the front waiting for customers who need help has always been so nice and been able to get me exactly what I was looking for. Once when they didn’t have the product I needed (a replacement coffee carafe) he ordered the exact model I wanted and it was in the store in less than a week. I had to remodel my whole apartment when I moved in, and Aquarius was our go-​to hardware store the whole time. Even when I want to do little project to beautify my home, all I have to do is tell Angel what I’m working on and he knows exactly what I need. He also always gives honest reviews of products, and usually helps me get the most for my money. This is the best neighborhood hardware store around!

Fucked up making us a set of keys ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. They have no idea what they’re doing here. Go to Ace Hardware, 1 avenue over.