Ace Hardware, founded in 1924 by a group of Chicago hardware store owners, developed the retail environment by allowing individual stores to purchase items in bulk to save money and buy at the lowest price possible. Ace Hardware is ranked as the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative, known to consumers as “the Helpful Place.” Previously the building was entirely occupied by True Value hardware, but half of the space has now transitioned into the Niemann Ace Hardware. 

At many locations, Ace stores come in different shapes and sizes and offer a wide variety of different styles of paint, lawn and garden, tools, services and anything you’ll ever need to fix, repair and maintain your home. They are not only a hardware store, but they also offer advice for home and lawn care. Even though Ace Hardware is smaller compared to Lowes or Home Depot, they focus more on specialty and hard-to-find items, as well as having employees trained in offering specialized services and quality personalized assistance to its customers.

Manager Bruce Biedenharn lives in Edgerton and commutes to Whitewater for work. He has worked for Ace for over a year in the Whitewater location, and previously worked with other locations as well. He chose to work for Ace in Whitewater because it was close to home, and he felt like he belonged there. 

“It’s down home friendly – a good hardware store to work for,” Biedenharn explains. “There haven’t been many drastic changes. We continue the tradition of being the place that has something for everyone.

The Ace Hardware Corporation reported its second quarter 2023 revenues to be $2.6 billion, which had increased to $99.6 million, or 3.9 percent, from the second quarter back in 2022, according to the Ace Hardware Newsroom website, as a way to show that they’re company is making a difference. 

“Walmart is sometimes inaccessible, and doesn’t know about all the hardware needs of people. It’s especially nice to have a place that will be helpful for new apartment owners, and is nice to have so close,” said patron Dillon Hurth.

Hurth visits the Ace Hardware store often to get not only supplies, but also for advice on what to do in certain situations that cannot be solved with a simple call to a parent. Having something so down home within a couple minute drive for community members is important to keeping everyone in the loop with all their needs for advice and other tools and outdoor/indoor necessities. The store even has an app for members to learn about special sales and to earn rewards. 

The Whitewater location is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.