My first trip to Harry Epstein

[bfm336]

Got to stop in Harry Epstein for the first time today. Unfortunately is was less than an hour and I was dragging my wife, sister, and mother. Other than that, WELCOME TO THE MECCA!

Apparently they have four floors, although I am uncertain of what is on the others. I could have spent 2 hours on the main floor alone. Pictured below, today's score, EVERYTHING is MADE IN THE USA! Granted the SK pliers were the last USA set (and missing the spring), others they had were France.

Can't recommend enough if you are in KC to stop by!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jakemac]

HJE is on my Bucket List (although I don't think it will ever happen).
I LOVE being able to paw through piles of tools for hours. This style of old fashioned tool/hardware/whatever store just doesn't exist anymore. They used to be in every town, but now they're mostly gone and forgotten. I find that to be sad.

 

[Cope]

HJE is on my Bucket List (although I don't think it will ever happen).
I LOVE being able to paw through piles of tools for hours. This style of old fashioned tool/hardware/whatever store just doesn't exist anymore. They used to be in every town, but now they're mostly gone and forgotten. I find that to be sad.

There's at least one left in Houston, but they've had to dumb down their hand and power tools to accomodate the mindless people who only want junk tools.

 

[lilcraigford]

HJE is on my Bucket List (although I don't think it will ever happen).
I LOVE being able to paw through piles of tools for hours...

I might have to go ahead and add HJE to my own bucket list! That place sounds amazing! Which location did you (bfm336) visit?

I too like to lose time picking through tools (I'm sure this is common of most GJ members). Unfortunately there really aren't any good places to do that up my way. Going to my local Sears, Home Depot or Lowes has turned into a game of "I wonder how many non-imported tools I can find?"

 

[arz71]

There's at least one left in Houston, but they've had to dumb down their hand and power tools to accomodate the mindless people who only want junk tools.

There is a place that has higher quality (USA) made tools. They are becoming extinct and replaced with junk (priced almost the same as USA) tools.

 

[arz71]

Wilde makes excellent pliers as well, they kinda remind me of the older USA made Blue-Point not sure where they are made today.

 

[jakemac]

I too like to lose time picking through tools (I'm sure this is common of most GJ members). Unfortunately there really aren't any good places to do that up my way.

I haven't made the trip out there in years so I don't know if it's still open (the owner has been trying to sellout for years), but try taking a trip out Rt3 towards Belfast to the Liberty Tool Barn in Liberty, ME. It's about halfway between Augusta and Belfast. It will leave you in a tool coma.

 

[SweetD]

I'm jealous - would love to make a stop at HE. I'm waiting for the day my job takes me to Kansas City...it's been a long wait so far...!

Dave

 

[mikebaker1129]

There's at least one left in Houston, but they've had to dumb down their hand and power tools to accomodate the mindless people who only want junk tools.

Where ? I would love to find a place like this local.

 

[lilcraigford]

I haven't made the trip out there in years so I don't know if it's still open (the owner has been trying to sellout for years), but try taking a trip out Rt3 towards Belfast to the Liberty Tool Barn in Liberty, ME. It's about halfway between Augusta and Belfast. It will leave you in a tool coma.

Its funny that you should mention that! The other night I was doing a search for local places selling secondhand tools. One of the results was this article/video about Liberty Tool Barn. I'd love to make the trip if its still around.

 

[930dreamer]

My BIL and I went over during Thanksgiving, he's from that area. I went throughout the whole building, pics are on here somewhere?

 

[donvito]

Wilde makes excellent pliers as well, they kinda remind me of the older USA made Blue-Point not sure where they are made today.

Wilde is still 100% American made. HJE (and Wilde) have been on my list for years.

 

[colin39]

Thus spoke harry. Lol

 

[joseph.a.owens.9]

Wilde makes excellent pliers as well, they kinda remind me of the older USA made Blue-Point not sure where they are made today.

My favorite pliers! I build fence for a living and I help numerous people with farm work and they seem to last longer then any thing I can find.

 

[arz71]

My favorite pliers! I build fence for a living and I help numerous people with farm work and they seem to last longer then any thing I can find.

The steel quality, and the teeth on them work great. I don't think Blue-Point are made in USA any longer.

Wilde pliers look pretty good, cheap pliers are very rigid and have no 'flex' and the teeth are junk.

 

[joseph.a.owens.9]

Lifetime warranty on them if I wear a pair out witch I haven't yet I can just exchange them at my local hardware store.

 

[LB-1911]

I might have to go ahead and add HJE to my own bucket list! That place sounds amazing! Which location did you (bfm336) visit?

There is one location -

301 W 8th St. Kansas City, MO 64105
http://store.harryepstein.com/

 

[txan]

Where ? I would love to find a place like this local.

Cope might be talking about Southland Hardware. It's been around since the 30's apparently, but the brands they stock now leave a lot to be desired.

For tools, you can try Empire Tools.

 

[mikebaker1129]

Cope might be talking about Southland Hardware. It's been around since the 30's apparently, but the brands they stock now leave a lot to be desired.

For tools, you can try Empire Tools.

Cox hardware came to mind, but a place like HJE in
Houston,is a place I need to check out.

 

[Fedwrench]

Does Epstein's have its own smell like Harbor Freight does?

 

[LB-1911]

Does Epstein's have its own smell like Harbor Freight does?

Beyond that.......



Eau De Hardware

http://store.harryepstein.com/dailydispatch/2013/06/eau-de-hardware/

 

[bfm336]

Does Epstein's have its own smell like Harbor Freight does?

Only like an old, smooth, wooden hardware smell of heaven!

Pics below:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[panknuckshovel]

Ya know, if Harry J and the gang posted some pics on their website of the store aisle by aisle and floor by floor they may get a bigger pilgramage than the one to Mecca.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Very jealous...I will make it there one day!

 

[jakemac]

Well, now you're just torturing the rest of us with those pictures.

 

[PETE14]

Thus spoke harry. Lol

THAT was awesome! I watched it twice, and cranked up the sound for the second time, LOL.

 

[arz71]

Wished we had a store like that here!

 

[Mk4fool]

Hate to say this, but I live 20 minutes from there and have never been. Most my tools are from the tool trucks, kctool or another local favorite Clarkestool. One of these days Im going to stop by. I aways forget about it when im needing something.

 

[arz71]

That floor in that store would cost a fortune today, the quality of older buildings is just amazing to say the least.

Again looks like an awesome store, who would have thought one day they would be so rare.

 

[joseph.a.owens.9]

I live about an hour and forty five minutes south of Kc, I make the occasional trip up there. ....I see a planned trip there in the near future!

 

[Muffduster]

I've been to HJE's twice. Got the grand tour of all four floors the first visit. My only gripe is the unusual way tools are price marked. Standard $12.00 is a lot easier to quickly understand than E0021 or whatnot.

 

[panknuckshovel]

I've been to HJE's twice. Got the grand tour of all four floors the first visit. My only gripe is the unusual way tools are price marked. Standard $12.00 is a lot easier to quickly understand than E0021 or whatnot.

Well yah, if they priced it normal you would realize what you are spending and it would disturb your trance. They know what they are doing.

 

[woody 73]

Sigh maybe one day...I would have set up a cot and be in heaven!

 

[bfm336]

While I started this thread I got pics today of a family member visiting KC in front of the store - AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME THEY WERE GOING THERE! Agh.

Word was they are going to do a revamp of the website soon and add many more items (you know, the ones from the 2nd-4th floor). Can't wait!

 

[paulsomlo]

Finally made the pilgrimage while visiting Kansas City, spent a little over two hours wandering the aisles.

Although there are four floors, I'd say only the main floor is suitable for prime time. As per the pictures previously posted, it's more like a warehouse than a retail shop. I got the feeling that people cruising the aisles are the exception - it's more oriented towards people who know exactly what they want and can ask for it by name. I was allowed to wander the basement and the 2nd floor, mostly boxes of inventory and surplus stuff, no pricing. Things like axe heads, large boxes of very large sockets, stuff that only a toolaholic would marvel over. There's a 3rd floor as well, but I couldn't get the door to open, so I figured it was off limits. It became evident that they've been buying up surplus for a very long time.
Someone previously mentioned the way items are priced - a four digit code embossed on a metal tag that begins with the letter "E", and you have to read it backwards. One of the people that I was traveling with ended up spending over $200 on various and sundry items, which I'm sure is due to the fact that he really didn't know how much he was spending. I'm told that over 30% of their business is internet sales.

One of the nice surprises at Epstein's is that, in contrast to Home Depot, it actually takes some work to find tools made in China - I didn't see many at all. And while most everything at Epstein's can be had from various internet retailers, I've never seen that many quality tools under one roof, where you can actually walk in, lay hands on, and walk out with them.

I really didn't expect to meet the owner, Jori - I figured he'd be up in the "corner office" making mega deals and such, but he greeted us at the counter when we walked in, a nice surprise. We got the grand tour, got to meet the box art guy, etc.. If you're passing through KC, I highly recommend stopping in. Here's what I came away with, a one pound brass hammer that was a second, and a socket rail from Wright tool:

 

[Matt XYZ]

I missed my chance when I spent a year at Fort Leavenworth (the school not the prison) in 2010. I didn't know HJE, or the Garage Journal for that matter, existed at the time. I spent many weekends in Kansas City and probably drove by them a few times. I have to figure out a way to get back for a visit.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I've been to HJE's store a couple of times. When work takes me to Kansas City and I have time, I WILL stop there. Good folks, quality tools, fun time.

 

[nes999]

I planned a vacation AROUND going to HJE 2 years ago. The almost 6 hour drive was worth it. The wife wants to to back. She said going to HJE was one of the better parts of the vacation.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

 

[paulsomlo]

I planned a vacation AROUND going to HJE 2 years ago. The almost 6 hour drive was worth it. The wife wants to to back. She said going to HJE was one of the better parts of the vacation.

My significant other hung around for five minutes, spent the next two hours touring the neighborhood.

 

[anndel]

Some day soon. Hopefully the Army will send me to Fort Leavenworth for training soon and I can stop by there.