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Spanning an entire city block and big enough to warrant three separate street addresses, the Gracious Home flagship on Third Avenue strives to be as comprehensive as its mammoth size implies. Stocked with a bewildering collection of hardware and housewares—everything from closet organizers and bedding to cookware, electronics, gardening tools, lighting, and party supplies—the store, mindful of its uptown clientele, tends to showcase upscale brands than Home Depot and nearby Bed, Bath, and Beyond. But the opportunity to purchase a vacuum cleaner with a four-figure price tag is part of the charm of this forty-year-old local institution, where frou-frou scented candles and downy duvet covers lay side by side with unglamorous air conditioners and garbage cans. In addition to all the stuff, Gracious Home has a parts department and a repair clinic, rents out tools and carpet-shampoo machines, and offers free delivery in Manhattan, as well as assembly and installation of purchases. Though not as mind-bogglingly large, the sizeable Upper West Side outpost offers a substantial selection of housewares and domestic booty. — Geeta Dayal

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Best of New York Awards

• Best Neighborhood Hardware Store: Upper West Side (2007)