About Us

Our Historic Story Since 1938

Fred Torres, Sr., was an advertising executive at the Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans during the 1930s. After working in advertising for a while, he began wondering why he was using his expertise to make money for other businesses. In the late 1940s, he purchased Freret Hardware from the Jung Brothers, expecting to be particularly successful because tools and other hardware items had not been available during World War II. At that time it was located across the street from its present address. Ever the entrepreneur, Fred expanded the store in the 1950s into a larger space across the street, designed its front as an open air market, and offered new services such as pipe and glass cutting. This space at 5109 Freret had once been a fish market. The original white octagon-shaped tile is still present, adding old-time charm to the shopping experience. Fred, Sr., operated the store until the mid-1980s, running full page ads in the Times-Picayune—unheard of at the time for a small local business. The ads featured Dupont Lucite paint, ladders, window guards, and roller skates! He retired in the early 1980s. His son Rick, the current owner, has maintained it as an old-style and family-run hardware carrying hard-to-find items and offering expert customer service no longer found in most retail stores.

Our Partners & Brands

PPG Pittsburg Paints, Diablo Power Tools, and Blue Rhino Propane Exchange.

Great Selection & Helpful Staff

Departments

Plumbing

We have a wide wide range of plumbing stock for any new project or quick fix. Our products include PVC fittings, valves, gaskets, rings, and other common parts.

Electrical

Whether you’re installing some new switches in the house or simply looking for a few lightbulbs, Freret electrical carries everything you need to light up your world: outlets, a variety of bulbs and wires, switch plates, extension cords, and more.

Paint

We have primers and paints for every need: soft grays for a nursery, exciting yellows of an entertainment room, and peaceful blues in the bedroom, just to name a few. These are proudly stocked through the dependable PPG Pittsburgh Paints.

Housewares

You can find many household appliances both large and small in our housewares department. We carry kitchenware, office supplies, storage bins, and much more.

Fasteners

Nails, nuts, pins, screws, washers, clamps, hangers, and many more common fasteners can be found at Freret.

Hand Tools

We stock measuring tools, wrenches, cutters, several types of pliers, and many other hand tools that are useful for both simple and complex jobs.

Lawn and Garden

Say goodbye to bare lawns and obnoxious weeds. The various soils, mulches, pruning tools, and other lawn care products we stock will help you keep your outdoor areas beautiful.

Concrete and Quikrete products

Concrete and Quikrete products give you a solid foundation for different types of jobs. You can fix, create, and renovate with these high-grade and easy to use constructing products.

Builder’s Hardware

From chains to metal sheets, Freret Hardware & Paint stocks an expansive variety of general hardware for every need. We have door knobs and levers, tie-down straps, safety and security gear, furniture, weather seals, and more.

Services

Glass Cutting

Bring in your glass to have it cut into any pattern or shape. This service also extends to tempered and laminated glass.

Key Cutting

Our key cutting is quick and inexpensive. Whether it’s a new key or a replacement for an old one, we can help.

Paint Mixing and Concrete Products

We can mix any colors to get the most desirable result.

Computerized Paint Color Matching

Can’t seem to find that exact shade from the guest room, the kitchen, or your favorite pillow set? No worries—our computerized color matching can handle that for you. It can recognize any color you might need.

Pipe Cutting and Threading

We’ll cut and thread pipes to fit different profiles or size restrictions.

Blue Rhino Propane Exchange

Need propane? Exchange your empty propane tank for a pre-filled 15-lb Blue Rhino here at Freret Hardware & Paint. It’s quick, it’s simple, and it’s convenient.

Freret Hardware

Glass Cutting
Key Cutting
Paint Mixing
Computerized Paint Color Matching
Pipe cutting and threading
Concrete Products
Propane Exchange

MEET FRERET HARDWARE

Our goal is to be your primary source for Paint, Hand and Power Tools, Pressure Washers, Fasteners, Electrical, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, Housewares, Lawn & Garden and everything else you may need.