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Crafty Beaver Home Centers: Retail Stores Crafty Beaver is locally owned & operated serving Chicagoland since 1934. Crafty Beaver is a complete line lumber and building material distributor serving both retail and contractor clients. We carry a comprehensive line of hardware and home improvement products. Please take a look at our web page and visit a Crafty Beaver store in your area soon!
Reviews (27)
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Lauren Gordon-Fahn
Jun 12, 2022
Kim in kitchen design is the best, honest and informative. She offered years of good advice in designing my small kitchen. She helped me made sure the design was as efficient and well planned as possible. She asked all the right questions and knows every detail about the cabinets she sells. It is so nice to work with someone more organized than myself in a very high steaks stage of remodeling.
Valerie Naujokas
May 11, 2022
I went in to get keys made at about 4:00 pm I inquired about getting keys made the older gentleman in the paint department pointed me in the right area I was disappointed to see the young man was watering flowers NOT GOOD very disappointed per this business watering flowers is more important than tending to customers SAD
D. S.
Jan 21, 2022
I want to rate this place higher, but some of their staff outright ignore the mask mandate. I saw two staff without masks during my last visit, one of which was assisting me. Not sure how or why the management would allow for this. As much as I'd like to patron local businesses and avoid the big box stores, I can't go back here until I know they've tightened up their COVID protocols. A real shame as I otherwise found the store useful for some items that the big stores don't carry.
A. B.
Oct 24, 2021
Not a whole lot of variety compared to Home Depot or Menard's but I dig the personalised customer service/advice at Crafty Beaver
Marc Gurber
Sep 28, 2021
They are very helpful and very pleasant to do business with.
David Renk
May 27, 2021
Friendly Staff, great prices on lumber while Lowes and Home Depot are gouging us with over inflated prices. Would highly recommend them, it's worth the trip. Could use a bit more staff in the yard on weekends.
Cheryl Purdy
Apr 29, 2021
Was greeted at the door. Showed exactly what I needed and am looking forward to returning. Forget Home Depot. Crafty Beaver rules!
Bruce Patrick
Mar 05, 2021
Not hardware store but lumber yard. Prices a little higher, but material was really superior to big box stores and although service was typically slower they were very accommodating.
Jennifer Brennan
Jan 13, 2021
I have always loved Crafty Beaver - Skokie. I am so impressed with the way they are handling the Covid situation. No plexiglass walls at the cashiers, but an ingenious use of plastic bins to place products into that can be moved across a 6 foot counter. Tom was my customer service rep and my cashier. I felt safe AND welcomed, AND found all the items that I needed (plus some extras). Kudos to Crafty Beaver!
Duke G.
Dec 13, 2020
When you call and ask if they have something in stock and are told yes but then arrive to find that they have none in stock, it discredits the reliability of the place. Next time I'll skip stopping there and keep driving to the Menards or Home Depot. They usually have what I need. Crafty Beaver is great for wood. The only time I ever go there is if I need good quality wood. They even cut it for you.
Donhoe H.
Dec 10, 2020
Large selection and VERY KNOWLEGABLE STAFF. This location seems to have very few inexperienced part-time people Living in Wrigleville, shopping in Skokie because of the knowledgeable staff and selection.
Vincent Freeman
Dec 03, 2020
All the aisles were clearly labeled. Customer service was outstanding. The attendants were helpful, both inside and outside of store. Prices were good. And what we were looking for was available. Also the promotion at the register was true. We were out of the store within 30 minutes after getting what we needed!
Carl M. Gilbertsen
Jul 24, 2020
High quality wood/lumber, and great customer service. Definitely try this place before Lowe's or Home Depot
John F.
Oct 12, 2019
So disappointed in my latest experience here, ordered Timberteck deck railing and have had to return twice already and still do not have all I ordered. Pieces keep arriving broken or marred, unusable basically. It should not take multiple trips to get what I ordered. And when I complain and say I should get a discount or a piece of two free for all my troubles, they laugh at me.

I lost my contractor because I did not have all the materials when promised and now do not know if the job will be done before winter, leaving my front steps/porch without railing and a major falling hazard all winter!
Renee R.
May 21, 2019
Always helpful. Always finding great stuff for inside and outside the house. And the lowest price for propane tanks in the village. I love browsing around. No one hassles or follows me. And I'm sure to make a purchase. Years and years of positive vibes.
Joel B.
Nov 26, 2018
Crafty Beaver is a lumber yard, as a professional who's been in business 38 years this has been my choice for our supplier of lumber and building material. They have knowledgeable employees that can help explain the lumber choices. The so called big box stores do not have the quality of lumber that Crafty carries in stock. They will also order in if they do not stock it. I recommend Crafty when you need to pick up building materials. Keep up the great service.
Sandie B.
Nov 24, 2018
Epic fail. Website says they have a giant selection of lighting. Drove all the way there.and they don't. Employee told us that the website is wrong and it's "gotten us in trouble before." Crafty Beaver--update your website so you don't waste people's time!
Rebecca P.
Nov 16, 2018
Best hardware store in Skokie. Low prices, excellent service, wide selection. Come with your shopping list, leave happy. Everything you want or expect from a local hardware store.
Mike Z.
Oct 22, 2017
Customer service is good. They always ask is you need help. Ordered some lumber for delivery& they helped me pick the best boards from inventory. Paid up front& delivery was on time and right up to my garage door like I asked. Total cost: less than the others I called. Needless to say, it was a nice surprise when the Beaver delivered the Wood. Also, their prices on small necessities like bolts, screws, etc. are well worth the trip. MAKE THAT WERE.

A week after I posted this they nearly doubled their price!? Is that the thanks for leaving a good review? I guess it's back to the bigs. No need to get bitten by this beaver.
August B.
May 22, 2017
Came here for some boards. They cut them for me and helped load everything up. This is where you go if you have a project you need to do. Excellent customer service. Go here.
Betsy S.
Sep 21, 2016
Kim, the kitchen designer at Crafty Beaver in Skokie, is a gem. She is informed, knowledgable, flexible, very pleasant, creative, and able to work within a reasonable budget. What more could you possibly ask for? Because of her, I am so glad I chose to come here for my kitchen re-do, rather than a big box store!
Erik G.
Feb 03, 2016
Needed some specific sizes of cedar for a project and they went out of their way to make several cuts and gave me a really great deal. Excellent service and I'd recommend over larger hardware stores for sure.
Joe B.
Dec 31, 2014
This is the best hardware store I've ever been to. The service is unmatched. One time I went for pallets to keep things off the floor in my basement, "can I buy some?" I asked, pointing to their stack, "no, they're free. How many do you want?" He even helped me load them in my truck. Another time I was building a shelf for my workbench, a guy there patiently looked as I sketched out what I wanted, fished out the parts I needed out of the scrap bins, cut them down to size, and carried all the materials I needed to the check out, it was like a ready to assemble kit.

Total cost $4 I would have been left for dead at a big box hardware store, if we don't support these guys then we deserve the non-service we get at the big hardware chains.
Michael L.
Nov 13, 2014
Always knowledgeable and willing employees make this a great place to shop for home projects. Even though not a huge building like some home stores, they always seem to have what I am looking for.
Robert H.
Nov 10, 2013
I was on the Yellow Line and thinking I really needed to make up my mind if I was going to go by a hardware store on the way home or not. I looked out the window and saw this place so I jumped off the train and headed inside. I was met just inside the door by a friendly young man who greeted me and took me to the exact spot where the item I was looking for was located. Overall a very nice experience and if I lived in this area I'd make sure to return here for all of my hardware store needs.
TheyCallMe Q.
Jul 23, 2012
Poor practice on delivery orders I visited the store to check out deck materials. The guy at the counter Rocky was great. With his help I placed an order for about $700. They told me my stuff would arrive in two days and they asked if I wanted to pay for it all or pay half now and the rest prior to delivery. I chose the latter. Two days later I call, nobody knows what's happening with my order.

The next day I call again they tell me itll be two more days. Great just blew my schedule. So when the order finally does arrive they tell me I have to come in to pay for it. I double checked my calendar to be sure it wasn't 1975. But yep they won't take credit card info over the phone. When pressed they told me some cockamamie story about a lawyer who burned them on an order bla bla bla.

This store is so close to getting it right but some serious customer service issues are in the way. If you're buying off the shelf they're good but for special orders they just don't have their heads on right.
A. W.
Jul 24, 2005
I prefer this local hardware store to any of the bigger chains, even the new, super huge Menards down the road. This place has everything you need at really great prices. And the service is always really great, you can ask the sales people anything and they will always be more than happy to assist.