Variety Mart

Been twice mid afternoon Wednesdays and this place is always closed. Update your hours or do something as this is very inconvenient

You walk eight blocks to the store, and it's closed. Although according to the schedule, it should be open.

They’re open again! Solid neighborhood hardware store.

This store is truly a variety mart — it has a little bit of everything. They make keys! There’s potting soil and gardening supplies, sewing notions, cleaning supplies, jars, kitchenware and organization supplies, some tools, paintbrushes and sandpaper, microwaves, clocks, wood stain and some paint. I’ve only been in once but was satisfied with my trip. I felt the prices were fairly reasonable for nyc. It’s not a Lowe’s — it’s a small store. But it had a lot more options than I expected.

Every time I try to go here they’re closed even in the middle of a weekday when it says they’re open 🙃

Been stopping in a bunch to grab things while moving in, they have a great selection and I have always been greeted warmly!

worst store in the neighborhood. extremely rude owner, dirty shelves. and maybe the owner could wear a mask if she has a "wear a mask" sign on the door. I'm all for supporting local businesses but I won't be sorry when this store crumbles and a starbucks takes over.

Nothing fancy but I really appreciate having a hardware store in the neighborhood, and even better that it’s an independent business! Both times I’ve been in the guy working there has been helpful.

This place is truly weird. They blatantly don't want customers. You are not welcome at this store. I don't know what's going on with this store, but they don't want you in there, they don't want to sell you anything, you're not allowed to look around, the staff is unpleasant, rude and vaguely threatening. I'm not sure why this store exists, but it's not to sell housewares. Don't go here. They don't want you. They don't want your money. I have no idea what's going on, but this place should definitely be avoided. If I could give a negative number of stars, I would.

Worst. Not only is it wiiiiildy overpriced but the service is toxic. Literally. The old lady behind the counter wasn't wearing a mask. I politely asked her to put it on before helping me. She proceeded to drop a million F bombs on me. I left. Better safe than sorry. Don't shop here. You'll be sorry.

The old lady who works here is the owners mother and she ruins this business for him. As you can read from the other reviews, she is horribly rude beyond belief. Forget asking a normal question about an item they carry so you can pay THEM money, she will rip your head off. Doesn't matter how polite you are. And it has happened every single one of the 5 or 6 times I have gone into the store. Her son however, is lovely and knowledgeable and should make sure his mother stays out of the store to not ruin his livelihood.

After seeing some of the other reviews, I'm not surprised my visit this time was so poor. Lived in the neighborhood for 38 years, been here many times, and this one was my last. Staff was great, and friendly, except for the rude older chubby woman at the register, seems to be a pattern. Looks like Bruno's it is from now on.

This is a family owned business. These are very nice people, they work hard and carry a wide assortment of "stuff". Reminds me of the hardware store when I grew up that my Dad would take me to. It's convenient, right in the neighborhood and is not some big box or mega online corporation. I just love it.

0 stars!!!! The worst place ever!! That old lady is horrible. She shouldn't be working anymore to be honest. I went in to buy a face mask. They had the blue hospital ones that everyone has. She said it was $3.25 for one mask. I gave her $10 and told her that it was was way over price. She then closed the register and told me to go somewhere else very nasty. When I asked for my money she says she doesn't remember me giving her money. Then why would she even open the register? Best believe I reported that horrible place for price gouging during this pandemic when I was trying to not spread any viruses and trying to play by laws by wearing face masks and for stealing $10 from me without returning and playing DUMB! Please everyone go else where!!! Not worth it

Zero Stars! Terrible service, terrible prices, terrible people! In summary, don't ever go here, you will be overcharged and will have to deal with very rude people! I am surprised this place this exists. I went in to get copies of keys made. After the man started to make the copies, I was told the price was $3 a key. I knew that was overpriced, but I figured it was fine, I needed to get them made. The old women at the desk said it was going to be $29 verbally, but then charged me $10 extra dollars on my card. I asked why it was so much and she said it was the sales tax. When I questioned why it was around $30% sales tax she started to make fun of me and say "so sad, you never learned about tax etc." It was bizarre, but she was old, so I tried to be respectful. Finally, I went to the man making the keys to try and get an answer from him (the whole time he heard us, but tried to stay out of it). When he calculated it, he said it should be $31. The old women started to argue with him, but then handed me $4. I said, you owe me $8 and she said "oh, so greedy." It was truly the weirdest experience.

Ok selection for a tiny basement store. Prices are not great, but not astronomical. My main issue with this store is the lack of service and transparency. I found it difficult to return a clearly defective tool, even having the person at the counter test it out. After seeing that the tool indeed did not work, the salesperson begrudgingly offered a store credit. Fine, good enough! I tried to use the store credit about 7 months later, and a different salesperson refused to honor it. Told me it was expired, but I was never told that the credit was only valid for 6 months (nothing on the slip I was given mentioned expiration) when the other salesperson issued it. Dishonest, overpriced, and mediocre selection. Go to the larger hardware stores on Court St. instead.

I would not return to this store if the owners paid me. I came in to buy a mattress disposal bag and they sold me one that is too small. When I called to see if they have bigger bags, the owner of the store yelled at me, claiming she's too busy to check her shelf (no one is ever in the store, not sure how busy she can be?), and berated me for calling at all. I believe in supporting small business, but it's not hugely surprising this store has a terrible rating because the customer service is atrocious. Brooklyn Heights deserves better.

The worst! I was charged $2,300(yes, two thousand three hundred dollars) for a coffee maker. I went back the next day to rectify the situation. The woman made me feel bad for hastily wanting my money back. She told me, "It's just money." I had to call repeatedly to her son on the phone to come and give me my money and correct the mistake. I then had to call the police to escalate the situation. Eventually her son came back. The way I was treated was terrible. I understand if these people may be having problems in their lives which causes them to have bad attitudes towards people but it's absolutely inexcusable.

No stars for these horrific business owners. Beyond rude. You know, we make the effort to shop family, neighborhood businesses because it's the right thing to do in this economy. This place has it ALL WRONG. The son followed me out of the store and up the street to another store to accuse me of stealing what I had just paid for. I take him back to the store, the father verifies that I have paid. Wrong wrong wrong. No apology offered. RANDOMLY ACCUSING A PAYING CUSTOMER OF THEFT? YOU MUST REALLY HATE YOUR CUSTOMERS! Don't spend a dime here. They don't deserve to be in business. Go to Tony's on Smith Street. They are the polar opposite of these jerks and the best example I can think of a fantastic family business. Tony's has exceptional service and the store has everything you could want. If they don't have it in the store, they'll get it for you.

Not sure why the reviews are so bad. I just went in, unsure if they would have the special type of bulb I needed. Sure enough they did. Even though the owner was eating his lunch, he got up and was very pleasant, and helped me find the bulbs. Also, the two bulbs I needed were 1/2 the price they were online.

Purchased a way overpriced item there when the older woman was at the counter. Asked about the return policy---she stated credit only if returned unopened in a week. Tried to return the unopened item, with the receipt, the next day with the old man (owner?)---he tells me NO RETURNS ALLOWED! I told him what the woman (prob. his wife..) had told me. Didn't matter. No store should be so arrogant to have this policy! He's a very degrading, nastyass old man. So, I tried to return the item again when I knew the woman would be at the counter (in the morning, if anyone else needs to benefit). She accepts the return, gives me a handwritten yellow sales slip type paper with the amt. written on it--tells me the credit must be used within 7 days or you lose it. Stupid me, I try to go in and use the credit when the old man is working. He tells me I'm trying to scam him, that the yellow slip I am trying to use as a credit is actually the receipt I got when I bought the item!!!!! I'm almost 60 yrs. old---I don't have the effort in me to try to scam anyone out of $19.00---LOL. So I have to make another trip there, and redeem the credit when the old lady is working. And know what I blow the $19.00 on? A dishtowel, chip clip, a small sandwich size plate and a small (plastic) one cup size measuring cup. Talk about overpriced crap!!! Well----then I catch the old lady overcharging me for the stuff!! The little dish at $4.99 gets rung up on her calculator at $5.95, etc. I ask her to show me the calculator tape, she rips it off the machine and throws it in the trash. She adds up the stuff again, she knows I'm watching her, the order is now over $3.00 less, on just 4 items..... Beware! They should be wearing masks.

Pros: nearby Cons: Overpriced, terrible service, poor selection, overpriced and overpriced. Did I mention overpriced?

I called To inquire if they had a certain product in stock to which she said they did but couldn't ck the price because she was "too busy". I was desperate so unfortunately I made the trek only to find out that they did not have it in stock. When I told her I'd spoken to her on the phone earlier regarding said product she said "oh I thought we had it".

Zero star for this terrible place. Extremely rude employees scream at you when you ask for help. things are definitely overpriced. If you are looking for batteries, gorilla glue and household stuff, go to key food just one block away. things are much cheaper there. I talked to my super one time and he said someone should call the police on this place. My husband and I have made our mind to never step in that store again. It's humiliating!

I had a great experience with this hardware store. Yes the prices are high, - that's my reason for three stars, but the two people I've met working are super, super helpful. I would suggest them to anyone in the neighborhood.

It is overpriced and the owners/ employees are rude and arrogant. Go to CVS for some items and/or to the hardware store on Court street where the employees are helpful and not rude. It's too bad that they don't have a sense of community. We wouldn't mind paying extra if they were nicer. Gristedes has super expensive prices but the employees are pleasant and so one doesn't mind as much. Gristedes overcharges, in some cases, $2 more!!! I gave one star because there is no zero option.

The store is disorangized and overpriced. As much as I like supporting local businesses, these are not the kindly local business owners you want in your neighborhood. They also own buildings in the area and pretty much define slumlord.

Nice people & good for basic things you'd find in a hardware store + lots of random household items (e.g., some appliances, cleaning supplies, plates and cups, etc). In my (admittedly *very* limited) experience, they're reasonably priced.

All I can say is Thank God this place is here. They have an amazing array of supplies and I would pay far more in time and energy to trek to other places selling all these goods. They have saved me more than once in a pickle when I need something quick for a construction project I am working on. These guys have been here for 40 years. I am happy to support them and hope they'll be here for another 40 years.

If you're looking for reasonably priced mason jars... don't go here. I understand that rent is expensive, but come on. $3.50 for a single pint jar is ridiculous. The guy at the counter wasn't a dick to me, so they have that going for them.

Wow, where do I start? Everything in here is sub par, overpriced and if that wasn't bad enough - they actually DO NOT accept returns. Is that even legal? The guy is unpleasant, perpetually disinterested and gets annoyed when you ask a question. Avoid if you value your cash and sanity.

This place is TERRIBLE. The man that works here had the most misogynistic attitude towards me and the woman was just plain mean. Usually when I go in, I get the same treatment, but today was especially terrible. The woman that works there is never helpful and downright rude. I asked her where the grout was and she pointed me to the back section of the store. As I passed by it, she said "Stop, it's right in front of you." I looked around and didn't see it. Instead of saying things like, "To your left," or "Next to the spackle," she said under her breath, "Oh my god..." in a different language, like I was the idiot. I said that I still didn't see it and maybe she could point it out to me. She never moved from her spot and kept on saying that it was right there. Then, the man that works there came over to help. He dug around behind a few things and found it for me. It ended up being pre-mixed grout and I needed the powdered kind (which was why I couldn't see it, I was looking for a bag, not a container). When I told him that, he looked at me and said "Is your father or husband helping you with this project? You will need to mix this by yourself..." I said back very firmly that I had used this kind before (which I have) and proceeded to head to the cash register. She basically made up a price but I just shoved my card at her so I could get out of there before I exploded. It's one thing to be rude to me or to not want to help me find something, but its another thing to assume that I can't do a household project just because I am a woman. PLEASE DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR BUSINESS. There is another hardware store nearby on Court Street that I will be going to from now on.

Avoid this place at all cost! I am not talking about the other employees who may be hired there, but the owner with gray hair with black glasses is not an honest person who should not run any business at all. He seems trying to cheat you out of every penny as much as he can get. We purchased some items from there and since my husband never check any receipt, when I finally glanced at the receipt before I threw it away walking further away from the store, I realized that the charge was not even remotely close to what we were supposed to pay, which in itself was extremely over priced. When I went back to ask about the overpricing, and returning one item that turned out to be way more expensive than we originally thought, guess what! I was harassed with extreme rudeness. He definitely does not want you to ask about any price you are paying for your own purchase. As he was returning the money, I left the store thinking it was finally over. And guess what? I had to go back there, because he did not want to give you the right amount! He tried to cheat the small tax out of you! Normally, I wouldn't even bother going back there just to avoid wasting time and energy,(well my hourly monetary and mental value will be way higher than anytime I will waste by trying to get the tax from him), but I was infuriated by such a dishonesty! What a disgraceful and disgusting business he is running in my neighborhood. I totally regret I even went there today. Not worthy of my energy and time even writing about this disgusting person, but wanted to warn others so that they can avoid all this unnecessary agony. I will definitely order most of my stuff online or go to different hardware stores, if necessary. Their product seems to be way overpriced anyway. I am amazed the store has not been closed yet, with that kind of rudeness and dishonest business. Perhaps, they get by overpricing, cheating on people like my husband, or their part-time employees were working hard. Well, as an educator, I have been always nostalgic about small businesses dying out, or taken over by bigger corporations or online businesses, but this type of nasty local business should die out for sure.

I used to love this place. A great store near my office for things I need and sometimes even browsing during my lunch hour. Yesterday, I went in to see what their stock of Baby Ben clocks was and found it was a 100% plastic version which I did not want to purchase. The woman who works there/owner (?) said I was therefore "not looking for nothing" and just wasting time. EXTREMELY RUDE. I will never be back to buy anything and will tell everyone I work with and who live in the neighborhood to avoid this place at all costs.

I've been living in the nabe for over 25 years. I try never to go in this store after terrible experiences. When my son was very young they complained and was extremely mean about having a stroller in the store. Each family member on future occasions have had a terrible disposition. It's almost as if they are doing you a favor for coming into the store altogether. I would avoid this store if possible. Can't believe they are still in business. If I could give it no stars I would

Extremely rude and overpriced. There are much better hardware stores just a few blocks away on Court Street - the employees are incredibly helpful and the prices are fair. Do yourself a favor and go there.

I went here today for some random items. The employees were VERY helpful. Yes, they aren't the most well-stocked store but they had what I needed and were very willing to order anything they didn't have. It's nice to have a good local store instead of going to the giant Home Depot.

interesting to read the other reviews, i too was overcharged by the lady (owner's wife), and when i asked about it and showed the difference she got an attitude with me and made me feel bad about it all! the son, is very arrogant - so i suspect when he takes over eventually, this place will certainly not last. i will absolutely not give them my business.