Ace returns to Kalispell

The Daily Inter Lake

Ace Hardware is returning to Kalispell.

The store opened on Friday in the former Creative Crafts and Home building at 130 N. Meridian as the fifth in a chain of Montana Ace Hardwares owned by Stu and Meg Weis. The Weises also own two Ace franchises in Missoula and one each in Polson and Ronan.

Before it was converted into a crafts store, the building for many years housed an Ace store under the Zauner's name.

"We thought it was natural that Ace comes back to Kalispell," Don Pearce, general manager for Montana Ace Hardware, said.

With a 25,000-square-foot sales floor, the store is the largest of those owned by the Weises. Since the building changed hands on Dec. 10, the interior has been remodeled, new signs installed and new sidewalks put in. The exterior facelift will be completed with fresh paint when weather permits.

"I don't think anyone will recognize it when they walk in," Pearce said.

Among its 50,000 stocked items, the store will offer the standard hardware inventory, including paint, tools, plumbing and electrical supplies. Pearce said pet supplies and housewares are always popular among Ace customers, and the Kalispell store will focus on providing a comprehensive lawn and garden department.

"And everyday you get free popcorn," Pearce said. "In Missoula, that's been a huge factor."

The staff currently stands at 34 people, all hired locally. Knowledgeable employees are crucial, Pearce said, because customer service is the key to a successful Ace store.

"We really try to give you the hometown hardware experience," he said. "We're geared toward great customer service."

Pearce feels the location gives customers in a high-traffic area new options. And opening after the establishment of big-box home improvement stores such as Lowe's and Home Depot is a bonus, Pearce said.

"It's much better to be the last store to open, because the experience they'll have here is a new experience. New is a good thing."