Ace Hardware under construction in Columbia Falls

A new Ace Hardware store is coming to Columbia Falls, just west of the current Hanson’s Hardware.

Crews broke ground a few weeks ago on the 18,000-square-foot building, which will include other retail space.

The building is being completed by Cottage Apartments LLC of Livingston and is being built by Markovich Construction of Butte. Its estimated value is $3.9 million.

HGFA Architects of Billings designed the structure. The firm has designed previous Ace Hardware stores.

The owners also reportedly bought the Ace Hardware store in Evergreen.

Calls seeking more information on the development were not returned, but Columbia Falls City Manager Susan Nicosia told the City Council recently the development meets the zoning.

“We really can’t tell them no,” she said.

It does set up the city in a unique situation — it has four auto parts stores and will now have several stores in the same vein — Hanson’s, Western Building Center, Murdoch’s and the new store.

“It’s called capitalism,” council member Mike Shepard noted.