Sun City Center store to reopen May 1
From left to right: Tim Gibson, Joe Rush and Eddy Martino. Lisa Stark photos.
April 1st marks the anniversary of 10 successful years in business for the Crossroads Ace Hardware Store in Riverview. And while celebrating that milestone, owner Tim Gibson announced the purchase of a second store, the Sun City Center Ace Hardware, located in the heart of SCC Plaza.
“I think Sun City Center residents will be thrilled,” said manager Ed Martino. “They’ve relied on that store for 40 years. Now we will reopen with a fresh look and some new offerings they didn’t have before.”
Retaining all 35 employees of both locations, Gibson said he plans to initiate a smooth transition for the opening of the SCC location so that “no one will miss a paycheck.”
Managers and key employees are busy completing the renovation of the 5,000-square-foot SCC store, getting it ready to reopen by Friday, May 1.
“We plan to run it like our existing store, with some much needed updates,” said store manager Martino, who has been at the Riverview location since its inception in 2005.
Front row, from left: Morgan Whorley, Tracey Burgeson, Harry Smith and George Ringham. Back row: Dan Miller, Tim Gibson, Brad Bradley, Eddy Martino, Joe Rush and Louis Zalewski.
A fourth-generation employee of Ace Hardware, “Eddy” (as he’s fondly referred to by employees) is clearly passionate about carrying on the family tradition. He will become the new manager of the SCC location, while Joe Rush, a five-year Ace employee, will step into the position of manager for the 15,000-square-foot Riverview store.
Ace Hardware began as a small chain of stores in 1924 and has grown to include more than 4,600 stores in 50 states and more than 70 countries. As part of a corporate cooperative, every Ace Hardware store is independently owned. From neighborhood hardware stores to lumberyards to super-size home centers, each Ace Hardware is unique and tailored to meet the needs of its local community. The company slogan is “The Helpful Place,” offering customers knowledgeable advice, helpful service and quality products.
Martino credits Ace’s decade of success in Riverview to a sincere concern for their customers and the community in general.
“Our owner, Tim, is awesome with the community,” he said. “He never turns down an opportunity to contribute to neighborhood activities and fundraisers,” including Little League Baseball, women’s bowling, community church groups, Boy Scouts, and the C.A.R.E. animal-rescue shelter in Ruskin.
New manager Joe Rush agrees. “Our customers know we’ll go the extra mile for them,” he said, citing Ace Hardware’s policy of ordering special items and hard-to-find parts from their online inventory.
Cashier Ashtin McReynolds shows off the large selection of dog and cat food available at the Riverview store.
“Updating the computer system at the Sun City Center store is one of our first tasks,” said Martino. “This way, Sun City Center customers will be able to order products they see on the Internet, a service that wasn’t available at that location before.”
When asked what makes Ace Hardware special, Rush didn’t hesitate to answer: “We give the best customer service, and I’ve never had better bosses.”
Martino agrees. “Tim is good to his employees, and they give him loyalty in return,” he said, citing how the owner has supported employees through disabling illnesses when they were unable to work. Knowing the community and the specific needs of their customers is also key to their success, said Martino.
“Our feed department is one of the largest in the area, providing products for cows, horses, llamas, goats and domestic pets. We carry more brands than the major pet supermarkets,” a fact, he said, has kept them afloat through some of the toughest economic times.
Ace’s Garden and Feed Drive-Thru Center is a unique feature and a major convenience for customers, Martino says. “Some of our customers are elderly, and like the fact they can drive through and get what they need without ever having to get out of their cars.”
Look for Crossroads Ace Hardware at 13364 Lincoln Road, Riverview, and SCC Ace Hardware at 1619 Sun City Center Plaza, Sun City Center,
Visit www.crossroadsace.com or call 813-236-1885 for more information.