In the News February 2021
New Stores:
• Alma Ace Hardware has opened in Alma, Mich.
• Westlake Ace Hardware is opening new stores in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Derby, Kan., and is opening Ace Hardware of Livermore in a former Orchard Supply Hardware store in Livermore, Calif. and acquiring Town Center Hardware locations in Kirkland and Lake Forest Park, Wash.
• Bryan and Char Herrera have acquired Holyoke General Store in Holyoke, Mass., and renamed it Home Store at Holyoke.
• Nation’s Best has acquired BTU Do it Center in Las Vegas, N.M.
Gillman Do it Best Home Centers»
• Gillman Do it Best Home Centers opened its 13th location in Gas City, Ind.
• Curtis Lumber has acquired Wiley Brothers Inc., a lumber and hardware retailer in Schaghticoke, N.Y., that is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2021.
• Ace Hardware has opened in Parma, Ohio.
• Costello’s Ace Hardware has acquired Sip’s Ace Paint & Hardware in Long Branch, N.J., which will be rebranded as Costello’s Ace next year. Costello’s Ace now operates 37 stores.
• Adam Bakener and Stephanie Armoska have purchased Orion True Value Hardware in Orion, Ill., from John Hathaway.
• The Helpful Hardware Company has acquired Walker Hardware in Springfield, Tenn.
• Jesse and Jackie Kueter have acquired Lampe True Value in Bellevue, Iowa.
• Mark and Erika Sailer and Bill and Mallory Stoderl have acquired Murdock’s Ace Hardware in Perham, Minn., and renamed it Lakes Ace Hardware.
• Atwoods Ranch and Home is building a new 63,000-square-foot store in Hewitt, Texas.
• The Lochner family is selling four Ace stores in Wisconsin to Niemann Foods Inc.
• Diana Newton and David and Cynthia Brunjes have opened their third store, South Bay Hardware in Redondo Beach, Calif.
Kudos To:
• Schreiner Ace Hardware, with four stores in the Columbus, Ohio, market, is marking its 75th anniversary.
• MJK Ace Sales and Feed in Craig, Colo., is celebrating its 45th anniversary.
• Bernie Marcus, Home Depot co-founder, is donating $80 million to Shepherd Center, one of the nation’s only neurorehabilitation facilities specializing in spinal and brain injuries.
• Southern Lumber and Millwork in Charleston, S.C., is marking its 80th anniversary.
• Nancy Grabusnik, owner of G&S Hardware & Supply in Hackensack, N.J., was recognized as Woman of the Month for November 2020 by P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized).
• Independent We Stand (IWS) is marking 10 years of promoting the vital economic role independent businesses have on our communities’ success. For a decade, IWS, through founding sponsor STIHL Inc., has aimed to educate consumers about the importance and strong economic benefits of buying local and encouraging small business owners to tout their locally owned status, while providing support to independent retailers.
• Taylor’s Do it Center and Pleasants Hardware collectively raised $46,418 for Wreaths Across America, which coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies during the holiday season at 2,500 veterans cemeteries across the country and abroad to honor our nation’s heroes.
Taylor’s Do it Center partnered with Wreaths Across America for the fourth year. »
People On the Move:
• Do it Best Corp. named Ben Skoog director of brand integration, Russ Kathrein LBM business development manager and Chris Snyder associate merchandise manager.
Ben Skoog»
Russ Kathrein»
Chris Snyder»
• Jim Robisch, senior partner of The Farnsworth Group, has retired.
Jim Robisch»
• Ace Hardware Corp. announced David Groh will become president and general manager of Ace International effective April 5, replacing Jay Heubner, who is retiring after 38 years with the company.
David Groh»
Jay Heubner»
Greg Galen»
• Greg Galen, national account manager-hardware for Fluidmaster, retired at the end of last year. He spent 15 years with the company, following a 27-year career at Amerock.
• GreatStar Tools USA has promoted Arrow Fastener CEO Gary DuBoff to group president, CEO; Melissa Karlovitch to group vice president, chief human resources officer; and James O’Rourke to group vice president, CFO and treasurer.
Wholesalers in the News:
• PRO Group announced its 2021 Group Merchandising Conference will be a virtual event June 21-24.
Other News:
• Member Insurance Agency announced that the company will begin operating as American Hardware & Lumber Insurance Agency Inc.
• HMAN Group Holdings, the parent company of The Hillman Group Inc., has entered into a merger agreement with Landcadia Holdings III Inc., which will result in Hillman becoming a publicly listed company. The combined company will be named Hillman Solutions Corp.
In Memory:
• Francis “Frank” Falkenhan, a master plumber and Navy veteran who owned Falkenhan’s Hardware in Baltimore, passed away November 24 at the age of 89. He is survived by his daughter Debbie Falkenhan and grandson Tyler Falkenhan.
• Reynold Belletete, a World War II veteran who inherited a general store and with his brother Homer turned it into a chain of nine Belletetes hardware stores in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, passed away January 1 at the age of 101. He served as president of the New Hampshire Retail Lumberman’s Association and director of the Northeast Lumberman’s Association. He is survived by sons Jack and David, daughter Anne, 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
For the Full Story:
• HRM Enterprises, the parent company of Hartville Hardware, is acquiring Lehman’s in Kidron, Ohio. Click here.
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