BARTUNEK HARDWARE, Astoria

by Kevin Walsh

Who knows how long Bartunek Hardware has been on 23rd Avenue between 28th and 29th Streets in Astoria? A long time, judging by this plastic-lettered sign. As New Jersey DJ Don Tandler (The Record Handler) says, they don’t make them like this anymore and they don’t even try!

At first glance, it’s white and red, but a closer look reveals green, orange, blue and purple.

This is a quiet stretch in north Astoria so far ignored by its colonists. How long will it remain a secret?

4/1/16

5 comments

woodside guy April 2, 2016 - 1:37 pm

According to the denizens in the FB group GrowingUpAstoria.com Bartunek’s has been here since 1925 and is now run by Gary Bartunek the grandson

Reply
woodside guy April 2, 2016 - 6:17 pm Reply
Paul Farrell April 10, 2016 - 9:17 am

Bartunek Hardware is an absolute institution in Astoria.
It was founded in the 1920″s by Henry Bartunek, otherwise known as: “Mr. B”, after his dropping out of NYU.
Mr. B was there, at the counter, every day well into the 1970’s.

It is now in its third generation, with grandson Gary.

Reply
Mary May 7, 2016 - 7:24 pm

Bartunek Hardware. should be made a landmark.. My cousin Al & Sandy myself were very friendly with Ed and June Bartunek. Nice memories. The store carries almost everything your need

Reply
Michael June 21, 2017 - 1:29 am

We lived across the street in the 60s and 70s, and my parents, aunts, uncles, and grandmother always called it “Bartnicks”! Need a key? Go to Bartnicks. Gotta snake a pipe? Bartnicks! Paint or cement? Bartnicks! “Old Man Bartnick” was still around back then. I would go on an errand to get something in there, go up to the counter, and he would say”Wattaya need Mikey?” He was a nice man!

Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.