Walk into any big-box store and you know the drill. You wander through aisles long enough to have their own zip codes, searching for a single 10-cent washer while a teenager in a vest hides behind a pallet of mulch. It's soul-crushing. But True Value 17th Street—specifically the legendary True Value on 17th St in Costa Mesa—doesn't work like that. It’s a relic, but in the best possible way.
It's crowded. Honestly, it’s packed to the gills with stuff you didn’t know you needed until you saw it wedged between a specialized drill bit and a bag of premium birdseed.
The big-box stores want you to buy a 50-pack of screws when you only need two. At the 17th Street location, they'll sell you those two screws. Then they'll tell you exactly why the ones you picked out are actually going to strip your wood and hand you the right ones instead. That’s the difference. It’s not just about retail; it’s about institutional knowledge that’s disappearing faster than affordable housing in Orange County.
The Local Legend of Costa Mesa Hardware
If you’ve lived in Newport or Costa Mesa for more than a week, you've seen the sign. The True Value 17th Street location (officially known as Costa Mesa True Value Hardware) has been a fixture since the late 1940s. Specifically, 1948. That’s nearly 80 years of helping people fix leaky faucets and botched DIY projects.
Most businesses don't last eight years, let alone eighty.
Why does this place thrive while other independent hardware stores get swallowed by the orange and blue giants? It’s the layout. Or maybe the lack of one. It’s a maze. You go in for a lightbulb and end up talking to a guy who’s been working there since the Reagan administration about the best way to seal a deck.
They carry brands that the big guys won't touch. You’ll find Benjamin Moore paint here, which is a big deal for professionals who refuse to use the watered-down contractor grade stuff you find elsewhere. They have a massive selection of marine hardware too. That makes sense, considering the harbor is just down the street. If your boat is falling apart, you don't go to a warehouse; you go to 17th Street.
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What Most People Get Wrong About "Old" Stores
People think old-school means outdated. That's a mistake.
True Value 17th Street stays relevant because they understand the "neighborhood tax." In a high-value area like Costa Mesa and neighboring Newport Beach, time is the most expensive commodity. A contractor loses money every minute they spend walking through a parking lot the size of a football field. At this True Value, you park ten feet from the door. You’re in. You’re out.
They also pivot. They aren't just selling hammers. They have a surprisingly robust housewares section. You can find high-end YETI coolers, quality kitchen gadgets, and seasonal decor that doesn't look like it was mass-produced in a dystopian factory.
Why the "Aisle 4" Experience is Different Here
In a standard franchise, the person in the plumbing aisle might have been in the garden center yesterday. They’re reading the same label you are. At the 17th Street shop, the staff usually knows the inventory by heart.
- Fast key cutting: They actually calibrate their machines.
- Pipe threading: A service that is becoming a lost art in modern retail.
- Screen repair: They’ll fix your window screens so you don't have to buy entirely new frames.
- Glass cutting: Precision work done while you wait.
It’s about the "save." You bring in a broken part of a 40-year-old sink, and instead of telling you to replace the whole vanity, they dig through a drawer and find the one specific gasket that fixes it. That saves the customer $500 and earns the store a customer for life. That's how you beat Amazon. You provide the one thing an algorithm can't: a literal hand to hold when your basement is flooding.
More Than Just Hammers and Nails
The store is technically part of the True Value co-op, but it feels fiercely independent. That’s an important distinction in the business world. True Value isn't a "chain" in the traditional sense; it’s a member-owned wholesaler. This allows the 17th Street owners to curate their inventory specifically for the Costa Mesa demographic.
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They know the soil here. They know the salt air eats through cheap metal. So, they stock stainless steel and galvanized hardware that actually lasts.
If you look at the reviews—and people around here are vocal—the theme is always the same: "They had the thing nobody else had." Whether it’s a specific grade of sandpaper or a weirdly shaped plumbing elbow, the density of their inventory is statistically improbable for the square footage.
How to Navigate True Value 17th Street Like a Pro
Don't go on a Saturday morning if you're in a rush. That's when every homeowner in the zip code decides to start a project they aren't qualified to finish. It’s busy. It’s chaotic. It’s great.
If you want the real "expert" experience, go on a Tuesday at 10:00 AM. That’s when the career contractors are there. You can overhear more about structural engineering and local building codes in the checkout line than you’d learn in a month of YouTube tutorials.
Also, check the back. The store is deeper than it looks from the street. They have a garden center that manages to pack a ridiculous amount of greenery into a small footprint. It’s not a nursery, but for "I need a bag of potting soil and a healthy fern," it beats the hell out of the dying plants at the supermarket.
The Survival of the Independent Hardware Store
There’s a reason we’re still talking about a hardware store on a busy street in 2026. It’s a case study in "niche down to blow up." By focusing on the specific needs of the local community—boaters, old-home restorers, and DIY hobbyists—they’ve made themselves un-killable.
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They don't try to compete on price with the $1.99 plastic bins. They compete on the fact that their $5.00 version won't crack the first time you drop it. It’s about value, not just cost.
Moving Forward With Your Project
If you’re staring at a repair and you’re not sure where to start, skip the online forums for a second. Take the broken piece, put it in a Ziploc bag, and drive to 17th Street.
First, find an employee. Don't be shy. They expect you to be confused.
Second, ask for the "better" version of whatever tool you think you need. Usually, the three-dollar difference between the cheap tool and the professional one is the difference between a one-hour job and a four-hour nightmare.
Third, check their "helpful" racks near the register. They often have localized solutions for common neighborhood problems, like specific pest control for OC-specific bugs or cleaners for salt-spray residue.
Supporting these spots isn't just about nostalgia. It’s about keeping the knowledge in the neighborhood. Once these places go, we’re all at the mercy of a "helpful" chatbot and a shipping delay.
Stop by. Grab a soda from the cooler. Buy the weird bolt. Keep the 17th Street tradition alive because, honestly, your house depends on it.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
- Bring the "Evidence": Always bring the old part or a photo of the model number. Guessing leads to second trips.
- Ask for "The Specialist": If you have a specific plumbing or electrical issue, ask if "the plumbing guy" is in. They usually have one person who is a wizard in that specific field.
- Check the Marine Section: Even if you don't own a boat, marine-grade hardware is superior for outdoor projects near the coast because it resists corrosion far better than standard "outdoor" screws.
- Join the Rewards: If you're a local, use the True Value rewards program. It actually adds up if you're doing a renovation, and it works at this location.