Muff’s Hardware

If you own a vintage home, places like Muff’s are indispensable. The owners were incredibly helpful in cutting a new skeleton key for the mortise locks in my 1930’s home. The place is a true treasure trove of hard to find hardware from the Victorian era straight through to the Mid-​Century. Need a door knob? They have walls of them. Edwardian era escutcheon plate? Got ‘em. Sash weights for double-​hung windows? They have buckets of them. Okay okay, you get the point…
Yes, they aren’t the cheapest, BUT you are paying for the owner’s knowledge and for items that were crafted in the good ol’ USA back when quality craftsmanship really meant something. So when you put everything in perspective, the items sold at Muff’s aren’t as expensive as you might first think. Sure you can buy reproductions online but they will surely be made overseas and lack the history and patina that come with the real deal.

I scored a naked lady desk lamp at a swap meet, but it needed work. The lady who sold it to me said, «Take to Muff’s near the Orange circle.» I did, and the lady there worked a miracle. Quite a place.

Unique items but above all AMAZINGLY helpful. They really know their stuff and are professionals through and through. I walked in for advice — I didn’t buy a single thing — and Laurel helped me solve my problem with a level of service seldom seen in retail today.

I was originally very excited to find a store that had some antique clothing for a decent price, but due to my brief experience there I will not be returning. I had tried on a dress at 3pm and asked if I could place it on hold until closing (5pm.) They said no problem. When I came back 1 hour later to buy the dress, she said she sold it due to the fact that, «People place things on hold all the time and never come back.» Well I came back. Only an hour after I was told it would be held for me.
I understand that you want to make a sale. And I understand that 80% of the customers who puts things on hold won’t come back (trust me… I’ve worked in retail.) But that’s no excuse. If you aren’t going to ACTUALLY hold something for a client, tell them you don’t place items on hold. Don’t lie and thus disrespect someone who could potentially be a committed customer.

Muff’s? I think Muffs could qualify as a museum.
Drool factor = 5 out of 5
Hooray for keeping the store well stocked with vintage (not everything is «antique») hard to find items. Stocked, as in… floor to ceiling, stuffed in every nook and cranny. This is not the place for an OCD personality.
Seeing lots of things Mom had, I really didn’t need, things I finally got rid of, now selling here for big bucks? Arrrgh. = [
Now, for the things I do want to buy, I know I can get much of this stuff cheaper on-​line. But seeing it in real life before you buy is about as good as it gets. And no waiting.
I got lucky and found a set of vintage, glass paned doors to put in my kitchen for a new corner pantry. Needs a good paint job but is absolutely perfect for my vintage house. I just hope it doesn’t have some poltergeist attached. I know about that stuff. I get creeped out watching Haunted Collector on Syfy TV.
Prepare to spend hours here.

I really think this place has to be some kind of safety hazard… If you are here during an earthquake, i really don’t think you would make it out alive and if you are wider than average, you won’t fit through the walkways… it felt like walking through a hoarders house using their one path from the door.
Can’t comment on prices or even the stuff cuz i hightailed it outta there as images of being buried under never ending piles of doorknobs and hardware filled my head.

I think the owners love their antiques so much that this store is really just a museum or self-​storage for their collection! This store is jam packed from floor to ceiling of vintage stuff and antiquities.
The old lady sitting behind the counter is grumpy and rude. I never understand why people own a business where people interaction is part of the business and then treat customers like they are an annoying nuisance.
I inquired about a vintage salvaged window frame they had — they told me $ 15. Then a few moments later, the old lady (store owner) decides that the price is WRONG and because an old-​salvaged window is «old and hard-​to-​find», the price should be $ 22, she then carries the item back to the front of the store as if I’m not worthy of buying it. :(
Every antique mall carries stuff that is «old and hard-​to-​find», as well as eBay too.
I guess they would rather NOT sell merchandise???

I could spend all day buried in Muff’s.
I love the smell of Muff’s. I love how there’s so much to play with in Muff’s. I love Muff’s mysteriousness.
If you have any antique furniture, there may come a time when something breaks. It will suck. Staring down the Home Depot hardware aisles will drag you into a deep depression. You’ll probably seek some sort of professional help. If you go to Muff’s, you might find that random Bakelite or Lucite knob that hasn’t been made in 40 years. Or, maybe you won’t, but you’ll find enough knobs to change out all of yours and still maintain a somewhat authentic period piece. Anachronism is a bitch, after all.
Or, perhaps you just want to be different and have something more interesting than mass produced plain brass crap in your house. You want that one kick ass architectural centerpiece. This stuff has history. It’s awesome.

Good grief. What is it with people like this?
In this economy, you’d think that retailers would be bending over backwards to accommodate customers. Not with this dump. They did everything to be bitchy, condescending creeps, especially the red-​head who sat behind the counter.
We were looking for some hardware for an old pocket door and this canine behind the desk practically chewed our collective butts out for not bringing in a true-​to-​size schematic of the entire door. Like the average schmo off the street would know something like that? We had some pretty detailed measurements and this hag wouldn’t even look at them!
We wanted to ask her to act like a courteous human being, but then we realized that maybe she didn’t do imitations.
Keep your money and spend it where people not only practice customer service, they know what customer service is and who will appreciate your patronage.

Upon entering this place you should really tie one end of a rope to the door and hope to find your way out through that method.
I once tried to leave popcorn on the floor to show me the path to get out but the shop keeper gave me a terribly pissed off look and someone… or thing ate the trail behind me. Leaving me stuck looking for my way out of this maze for hours.
Thankfully I came across someone else who had been there for two weeks. Seemed they had lost their ways after the 5^th wall of lockjaw inducing metal door knobs. Together we managed to find the door — sadly they were killed by the empty bottles from the 20’s.
Okay, joking aside, this is one of the more cluttered mess of the antique mall row shops. I’m amazed anyone can find anything in here. They do have the vintage lamps lit, so you can see some freakishly dim path ahead of you. Can’t say the prices are all that much cheaper or even remotely ideal. But hey, one man’s trash sure as hell seems like it’s his own treasure.
The service is a bit snarky, but at least they aren’t hovering over you like some of the other shops. They did have cool vintage bottles and other glass receptacles that looked like they held eye of newt and other witch craft things in.
Not my first choice if I am doing this whole looking at old crap with the intent to buy, but at least it’s fun to browse.

I take people to this store to amaze them with the sheer amount of stuff in there. Their collection of hardware is incredible. I have never actually bought anything because the woman behind the counter was so unpleasant. I think she may be the owner and I choose not to support bad customer service. It’s a shame that I can’t support a local business but I also can’t support rude people.

Extremely pleased with the service. Needed to get keys for an old lock. Spoke with the lady behind the counter and she told me exactly how to get the old lock unit out and to bring it in and they would make a key for it. It removed the lock and returned to the shop and within a matter of five minutes she had two keys for me that work perfectly and had oiled the lock to work better. The price was very reasonable $ 20 for two keys. Can’t say enough about how easy they make it all. Thank you Muff’s

Service with a frown! Went there 2 weeks ago to buy some round knobs. When I asked if they came in polished brass the reply was «they are brass, why don’t YOU polish them!». I was then treated to a fight/​argument between the 2 aged sales people over the location of the knobs. YUCK! This is not the first time I have gotten this type of service by the way.. Prices seem very high to me, won’t be back unless I have to go back. They also call themselves an «Antique store», In terms of antiques I suggest almost anyone else on the block.

If you’re looking for random hardware THIS would be the place that would have it. Last time I checked, their website wasn’t that helpful so you have to go in there. Floor to ceiling hardware etc.

Bring a flashlight! Some of the cases are very deep and hard to see into so if you don’t want to miss a thing, BYOF!
I went in looking for a brass name plate for a professional door and they had a limited selection. The display used to be full of all kinds of professions but now its down to just the basic signs; Ladies, Gentlemen, No Smoking, etc… Luckily she had stock in the one I wanted.
While waiting to be rung up, I noticed about 3 or 4 awesome whistles each on their own brass ring and asked the price ($ 5) and decided to get one. Then she walked away with whistle and ring toward the back. Huh? 2 minutes later she comes back with just the whistle and my credit receipt to sign and I ask «wheres the ring that goes with the whistle?» Muff tells me «uh the ring is only for the display and uh keeping inventory.» I then point at the other whistles and ask «Why not just put them ALL on one ring so people don’t think they are buying something they are not?» At this point my sister pokes and says «just sign that thing so we can get the heck outta here!» I don’t like a bait and switch job so that’s why I gave them the low rating.

I LOVE this place. They have so many knobs and handles. I had two dressers that the handles broke. I went to Muff’s and found matching replacement handles! They have hardware from early 1900 to 70’s.
Muff is such a sweat heart! She helped me find matching replacement pulls. I don’t know how she keeps up with the inventory there but she just about knows where to find anything!
It’s amazing how much stuff is in that store. You have to at least visit to see it!

I went there today to get a doorknob and They had an in prompt to music Jam. It was really cool. I love this store. Lots of great hardware that I can’t find at Home Depot. Obviously!

Restoration Hardware, MOVE OVER!
Muff’s is the O.G. source for any sort of knob, lock, latch, key, escutcheon (huh?), hinge – anything holding your old piece of furniture or old house together!
They’ve got all their more common items numbered in shadow-​boxes lining the left wall as you walk in; larger and more unique items are in display cases throughout the store. They even have gilt-​bronze ormolu mounts (not gonna explain those – if you’re looking for them, you’ll know), intricate carvings – both of real wood and moulded epoxy.
It’s an old-​time old hardware store. Even if you’re not looking for something, it’s a cool place to browse, especially if doorknobs are your thing.
I mean, where else can you find a replacement lock for your 1792 fortepiano? I know where, but it’s not like you can just hop in the car and pick one up. Until, of course, I thought of Muff’s!

This is THE place to go for old knobs, hinges, door handles, window latches, et cetera. They also have some salvage items, windows, doors, and other architectural items, in the back. The staff are relatively helpful, but you do have to know what you’re looking for. So come with measurements, a digital camera, measuring tape, etc.