Westlake Ace Hardware Gains Four Retail Locations

Today, Westlake Ace Hardware, a subsidiary of Ace Hardware Corporation, announced it has acquired four hardware stores located in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska.

The 110-year-old Westlake Ace Hardware chain acquired all four Watkins Hardware locations, bringing Westlake Ace Hardware’s total store count to 89 locations. Westlake Ace Hardware takes possession of all four properties today and will begin the process of rebranding the Watkins stores as Westlake Ace Hardware. The stores are located as follows:

• Red Oak, Iowa (1601 Broadway St.)
• Maryville, Missouri (1409 S. Main St.)
• Beatrice, Nebraska (2317 N. 6th St.)
• Nebraska City, Nebraska (1107 Grundman Blvd.)

“We are fortunate to have many entities at Ace – like Westlake – that possess the desire, capacity and aptitude to grow in an industry that remains alive and well,” John Venhuizen, President and CEO of Ace Hardware Corporation says.

“Westlake Ace Hardware is a growing, vibrant company and valuable resource for our neighbors in the markets we serve,” Tom Knox, CEO of Westlake Ace Hardware, says. “The acquisition of the four-store Watkins Hardware chain will complement our overall footprint in many of the Great Plains states. We look forward to serving their existing customers, attracting new Westlake Ace customers and providing them all with the highest level of service, know-how and products.”

April 13, 2015, update: Westlake bought Turner Hardware in Farmers Branch, Texas, this month. With this purchase and the recent acquisition of the four-store Watkins Hardware chain, Westlake now has 90 neighborhood hardware stores.

For more information about the Watkins purchase, click here.