ACO Hardware Begins Second Wave of Store Transitions to Ace Hardware

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - April 10, 2014 - PRLog -- ACO Hardware, Michigan’s largest independent home and hardware store chain located throughout the Detroit market and beyond, has begun its second phase of store transitions to Great Lakes Ace Hardware, the nation’s largest hardware cooperative.  ACO began its initial transition in January, converting 26 of its 52 stores, all of which are located in Michigan.

The second phase of the transition to Ace will begin immediately with a “Total Inventory Blowout Sale in the remaining 26 stores in several cities in metropolitan Detroit, including Dearborn, Livonia, Plymouth and Sterling Heights, as well as Lansing, Jackson and Monroe.

Once the transition is complete, all will reopen as Ace Hardware branded stores and provide consumers with Ace’s nationally-recognized brands such as Craftsman®, Valspar® as well as exclusive lines such as Clark+Kensington® and over 10,000 Ace-branded products.

“Our customers are enjoying seeing the expansion of our product offerings to include more world class brand names,” said ACO Inc. President Mark VandenBerg.  “As we near the completion of ‘Phase I’ and begin ‘Phase II’ of our transition to Great Lakes Ace Hardware, our customers have provided a lot of positive feedback. We welcome everyone to not only take advantage of the sales going on now, but also come back when the stores reopen to renew their relationships with many of the same staff they have gotten to know over the years.”

To become fully aligned with the Ace Hardware brand and merchandise selection, the ACO stores will offer incredible savings on current inventory, including seasonal lawn and garden products, as they sell down to clear the stores.  SB Capital Group, LLC, has been retained to operate transitional sale events in the ACO store locations. The 26 ACO locations slated for conversion in phase II include:

*-1525B W. Maumee St., Adrian, MI
*-15819 Southfield Rd., Allen Park, MI
*-1581 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek, MI
*-412 S. Main St., Brooklyn, MI
*-1103 S. Main St., Chelsea, MI
*-22611 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI
*-26520 Ford RD, Dearborn Heights, MI
*-31580 Grand River Ave., Farmington, MI
*-1711 Spring Arbor Rd., Jackson, MI
*-600 Frandor Ave., Lansing, MI
*-3584 Fort St., Lincoln Park, MI
*-29567 Five Mile Road, Livonia, MI
*-37133 Six Mile Rd., Livonia, MI
*-860 S. Monroe St., Monroe, MI
*-41800 W. Ten Mile Rd., Novi, MI
*-25379 Grand River Ave., Redford, MI
*-9395 Telegraph Rd., Redford, MI
*-44441 W. Ann Arbor Rd., Plymouth, MI
*-423 East Michigan Ave, Saline, MI
*-14441 Eureka Rd., Southgate, MI
*-22291 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, MI
*-23135 Ecorse, Taylor, MI
*-1438 West Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh, MI
*-3080 Van Horn Rd., Trenton, MI
*-31059 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland, MI
*-140 South Merriman Road, Westland, MI

ACO, headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich. and originally founded in 1946 as Traskos Brothers Hardware Depot in Dearborn, Mich., has been firmly rooted in its founding principle of providing friendly and knowledgeable service. The organization currently employs approximately 850 associates and will continue to be an economic driver in the Detroit market.

About ACO Home, Garden & Hardware

Founded in 1946, ACO Home, Garden & Hardware has more than 50 stores throughout the state of Michigan.  While hardware continues to be its core business, the company’s name and product offerings have evolved to include home decorating items and seasonal-based products.  For more information, visit http://acohardware.com.