Ace Hardware Expanding To Watervliet

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The Borre family, longtime owner and operator of Ace Hardware stores in St. Joseph and Stevensville, is growing their company. They are purchasing Watervliet Hardware, an independent store in downtown Watervliet, and will add the Ace flag and its multitude of brands and products to the store’s offerings. General Manager Matthew Borre told us the transition will be gradual, so as not to disrupt existing customers in Watervliet. Borre said he’ll make the Watervliet store a “fully-branded Ace” by May and plans a Grand Opening then. The store will remain open and fully operational throughout the transition period. The store is being acquired from longtime owner Brian Conrad, who will continue to assist in the transition for a couple of months, according to Borre. About six people are currently employed. Borre expects most of them will continue and he may add a couple of workers in the Spring. A store manager position is planned, most likely from the ranks of present department managers at the other two stores. Borre told us they plan to maintain the “local hometown hardware store feel” in Watervliet, not totally mirroring the layout of the other two Ace locations. However, he sees expansion in key customer service areas like online shopping, in-store pickup and available delivery, which have not been part of the Watervliet store in the past.