About Us > Meet Preston Hardware

"Now Canada's Largest Independent Hardware Retailer"

It was 1945 when the store’s founders, Angelo Locatelli and William Germain, opened up Preston Hardware at 248 Preston Street. Eight years later the store was modernized, becoming Ottawa’s first self-serve hardware store. The present day ownership group of Mario and Sam Giannetti and their brother-in-law Mario Frangione purchased the store in 1973 and have built it into Canada's largest independent hardware retailer.

The “owner-in-the-store” policy continues to this day, giving the consumer confidence in their purchasing power of any of the store’s more than 160,000 products from over 300 quality brand names. Whether they’re an interior decorator buying bathroom accessories, an institutional buyer ordering janitorial supplies, or a bargain hunter in search of great savings, every customer receives the best possible service, selection, and value at Preston Hardware.

From home décor to home improvement, Preston Hardware has always tried to stay one step ahead of its trendsetting clientele. Contractors and hard-core woodworkers are invited to see our famous 240-foot wall of hand and power tools. At Toolfest, our biggest sale of the year each August, do-it-yourselfers can receive hands-on guidance from industry professionals like Black and Decker, Bosch and DeWalt as they put the latest tools through their paces.

Our on-site facilities features the most extensive hardware product lines for the renovator, including plumbing, fasteners, safety equipment, electrical and masonry supplies … as well as seasonal specials in lawn care and gardening. When the tools have been put away, you can enjoy cooking on a new barbecue grill from Broil King or Weber ... to go with that glass of wine. Our wine-making supplies have been a hit with area wine enthusiasts.

A stroll through our bathroom showroom is an escape to heaven. We cater to all budgets, whether you’re looking for a basin faucet for $19.95 or $900. Preston Hardware excels at having the selection, the quality, the style, the design and the colours of the Swedish, Italian or Parisian bathroom vanity or whirlpool the hard-to-find-import buyer has her heart set on. All clients, including government buyers, are invited to open an account at our new E-store or visit us at 248 Preston Street to see why … “if you can’t find it, Preston will have it.”