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Welcome to W.S. Jenks & Son, Established in 1866, W.S. Jenks is Washington's oldest and most complete source for tools, hardware, machinery, lawn and garden care, and home improvement. With over 100,000 items in stock serving the Woodworking, Electronics, and Telecommunication Industry we can handle all of your tool and hardware needs. Our Government Service, Supply, and Logistics department allows us to provide our wide range of product with WORLDWIDE Delivery.
Reviews (27)
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Norma Rivera
Jun 22, 2022
I am very impressed with how friendly and knowledgeable the staff are. This store usually carries everything I need. They even saw wood for a nominal fee. I'm so glad W.S. Jenks & Son is within walking distance of my home. It's convenient, affordable and well-organized.
Liv K.
May 30, 2022
Went in for landscape fabric, mulch, and gravel - super helpful staff! And I didn't realize how large the store is! Great selection of gardening supplies, plants, paints, hardware, and tools.
Sam A.
May 22, 2022
Local hardware biz, very helpful staff. I appreciate their presence and hope they continue to thrive.
Jon Sweitzer-Lamme
Apr 28, 2022
All the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. A great place to go for all your urban gardening needs. They also cut keys!
Brittany Janeice
Apr 25, 2022
Everything you need from high quality tools, to plants and plant accessories. Excellent business model; as they are focused on maintaining clientele satisfaction, over quick sales. Knowledgeable and helpful. My neighborhood hardware store!
Fred Bauer
Apr 15, 2022
Last time I was here was over 40 years ago. They have SawStop saws in stock and on display so worth the visit.
Jd C.
Feb 07, 2022
Being in the city without a car, sometimes you need a copy of a key, wood cut for a DIY project, or ice melt for an upcoming snowstorm. Jenks is open 7 days a week, thoughtfully stocked and the employees are friendly. Being so accessible comes with a slight upgrade in price, but the convenience of having a clean and reliable store is clutch. When I'm in a pinch, Jenks is my go-to neighborhood home improvement store.
Bridget Sharphorn
Jan 28, 2022
I was able to order an item online from this store which was impossible to find anywhere else (local or otherwise!) so that is already one reason for a positive review. Then they had someone call me to make sure I'd seen the email stating that the item had arrived - - which I had not. And finally, today when I called asking about the store's hours and trying to take some extra care regarding preventing CoViD transmission, and then arrived to pick it up a few hours later, the woman who both answered the phone and brought me the item went above and beyond what I'd expected. It's a bit of a drive for us, but we'll definitely use this hardware store more in the future.
Nique M.
Jan 27, 2022
This is one of the best hardware stores I've ever been to. Great service, knowledgeable staff, comprehensive stock of everything/anything you're looking for. Two thumbs up! #shoplocal
Paul Askew
Jan 19, 2022
It was great like always the employees have a fantastic way of assistant with whatever you may need or will create another product that will the prices are also remarkable good. I would recommended my friend and family when it come to there hardware needs. Keep up the good public business Services that you all provide. Thanks
Keith R.
Nov 21, 2021
Well organized hardware store with really go management. This is my favorite small hardwood store to visit!
Inar C.
Jul 05, 2021
Great store with friendly service. So so many well-loved plants upstairs. Glad to see a local DC institution serving its local community and doing well.
Ima G.
Jun 28, 2021
The second time I walked in the store they remembered my name. I've purchased hardware here and it's always top quality to the point that when I buy a product elsewhere and it includes screws, bolts, etc., I immediately go to Jenks to replace the cheap stuff with higher quality material that doesn't break. Their paint department is staffed by folks who actually know paint and even advise downward when more expensive paint isn't needed.

Their tool selection is far better than the other local hardware store on the Hill as is their home goods selection. I've bought major woodworking tools from Jenks and have more confidence in them than had I bought them from some unknown seller on-line. They've gone out of their way to correct the failure of the manufacturer that failed to include ordered parts.

Unlike other local hardware stores as well as big box stores, the staff at Jenks knows their product line. I've gone there ignorant of what I needed but told them what I wanted to do and they worked with me to get it right. My kind of store. The only thing I couldn't find were 6 inch boat/rope cleats but neither were they available at Fragers, Home Depot, or Lowes. I've renovated two of my houses and am an avid woodworker. Jenks is my first and usually my last stop.
Scott Gordon
Jun 10, 2021
Never a bad experience at Jenks. The staff cares, and they really know their stuff. You know, how hardware stores used to be? I didn't know stores like this still existed. Their inventory, services and prices are amazingly competitive, too. Pretty much anything you can get or do at Lowe's, you can get or do here. Do yourself a favor and shop here. Support a local business and feel good knowing you got everything you need at a great price.
Kelly J.
Apr 25, 2021
I purchased paint here for some home projects and they were very helpful. I had gone to Home Depot initially, but the person who was there said he was in training and he couldn't really help me. He advised me to come back later. So I was pleasantly surprised to find someone so knowledgeable about paint at this store.
John Ransom
Apr 04, 2021
Really helpful staff and they have just about anything you could ask for. They will take the time to walk through a project with you and give you advice. It's also family owned, which is great. Prices are competitive and the experience is worth any premium you pay to avoid the big box stores. Great selection of tools, home repair supplies, grilling gear, and they have a nursery on the roof! They even get the schools involved through gardening programs and partner with a local CSA. Love this place.
Nisha P.
Jan 30, 2021
This store is a little gem in Northeast DC. My boyfriend and I went there with our pup (they're pet-friendly!) to get some hardware for our apartment and were pleasantly surprised to find out they have a rooftop garden. There are a lot of plants to choose from and the staff was really kind and willing to answer our questions about which plants would work for our apartment. Will definitely be going back!
Yasmin A.
Oct 22, 2020
Good prices, friendly staff. Love all the plants and Cultivate the City on the rooftop. Just wish they had a greater variety and more visually appealing indoor/outdoor pots (ie ceramic, clay, etc).
Terri J.
Sep 11, 2020
Always helpful and thoughtful. Doesn't have everything like the big box stores ( ex. Home Depot) but certainly everything you'll need for small around the house repairs. They're friendly, thoughtful and go out to their way to help you figure out what to need. Nice house plant plant selection - a little pricey though. So I don't get plants from there. They also provide UPS drop off service which is VERY convenient.
Ken W.
Jun 02, 2020
I am always treated well at this establishment. The staff is SUPER friendly and helpful. This business is a blessing compared to over crowded box store hardware places
John M.
Apr 09, 2020
So I went to Ace, which advertises itself as Frager's, which it's not and was treated so poorly and rudely I just left. Ace is closer to my home. And I guess that's the angle for them. Jenks however was an amazing experience. I have been going to Jenks more since the old Frager's burned down but the 2 experiences of miserable treatment at Ace (not original Frager's) and Jenks was black and white. Jenks respected that I knew what I was doing.

They took the time to ask me if I was from the area (funny too because I am and old pre fire Frager's was my first job in the early 90s) and they felt like a neighborhood hardware store should. If this seems like I'm trashing one to lift another, in some ways I kinda am. Everyone starts at a 0 with me. You can up or you can go down. Frager's went down. Jenks went through the roof. Glad to have Jenks as my new hardware store!
Christopher C.
Apr 02, 2020
We had a propane tank delivered on short notice to our home and the customer service was flawless. A helpful approach as we deal with stay-at-home orders to knock down the coronavirus.
Kari B.
May 01, 2019
We had to replace a door in our bathroom and needed some advice and and tools to rent to get the job done. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They went the extra mile and rented us a belt sander right off the shelf rather than turn us away. They also demonstrated proper technique to get the hinges flush, and recommended the proper chisel to accomplish the task.

On top of all that they shook up a can of paint we had purchased earlier for another project a few months back. If you're ever at crossroads between calling a task rabbit or handyman to get a small job done; I would highly suggest going to Jenks and see if they can help you do it right for less than that would cost
Jonathan S.
May 01, 2019
Best darn hardware store I've ever been to. Smart, efficient staff, knowledgeable about a lot of stuff, price competitive. They aren't huge but what they don't have they can get for you. My realtor pointed them out when we were checking out the neighborhood. I kinda laughed at the idea that a hardware store would be a local draw, but sure enough I'm there a couple of times a month. Really glad they re nearby but would be worth the trip if they weren't.
Chan L.
Mar 11, 2019
Very friendly staff members and they really seem like they want to take care of their customers. Came here to make few key copies for business matters and wanted to spend only few minutes here because of meetings and tight schedules. Granted I went there during the day and the store was pretty much empty. No lines, no waits, maybe one other customer.

I ended up spending 30 minutes waiting on few key copies instead of like 5 minutes that I wanted to spend. And this might sound unreasonable but hear me out. I have experience with the key cutter and I have cut hundreds of keys before. It does not take more than 5 minutes to cut 8 copies of SC1. Due to this very long wait, I was late to the next two meetings and schedule was messed up.

Still would have given more stars since the staff member was very apologetic but found out 4 out of 8 keys were cut wrong by fraction of a milimeter which makes them not work properly. This might not be a big error but that actually affects how the key is inserted into the lock and to hit the springs. Not a good experience from this place.
Scott K.
Jan 09, 2019
Friendly, knowledgeable staff. They have items that aren't sold at the big box stores, from more pro-type tools to live edge wood. Never had a bad experience and that keeps me coming back.
Nick T.
Sep 05, 2018
I think that 5 stars review is both a sign of appreciation, and at the same time a way to say thank you. here is what hardware stores are all about, before the huge Home depot and others took over. There is one thing that Home depot will never have, and that you will find here: Real answers, and honest approach and desire to honestly help you get the best things.

Let me put it like that: I got here advice, good price, and instructions. Go look for it another place. And above all, happy positive attitude. Support local, there is no replacement to that.