Ace Hardware Store to Fill Spot Where Geneva Hardware is Now

The landscape of Geneva’s State Street continues its evolution.

Shortly after announced its move about a mile west with a planned March opening, the owner of the strip mall at State and Sixth streets says another Ace Hardware is “waiting in the wings” to move in later this year.

“Because of the time it’s going to take to reset the store with fixtures and merchandise, it probably won’t be until the end of May or first part of June,” owner Bill Rosenfelder said.

Rosenfelder also said he’s been contacted by several business owners about the three vacancies now in the mall, which contains 16 businesses. He said he is very close to finalizing a lease for a soup and sandwich shop in one of the more visible locations facing State Street that formerly was a flower shop.

Rosenfelder said he’s owned the property since 1984 and built the strip mall when an Ace Hardware moved into what was previously a Jewel Food Store.

Geneva Hardware switched from the Ace brand last year to become a part owner of the Do It Best co-op, which is part of a 4,200-store organization. While sales increased for the co-op in the second half of the year, Ace remains the industry leader despite a loss of 48 percent in net income according to third quarter financial results for 2010.

Mike Dickson, owner of Geneva Hardware, cited some unresolved issues regarding the lease and space constraints as reasons for the move about a mile west to the former Dominick’s store. The new store has 36,000 square feet of floor space compared to the 18,000 square feet he said he now has and will allow him to display a larger inventory of items.

When asked if the hardware store shuffling at the location would have an effect on business if another Ace moves into the former location, Rosenfelder said he was confident the pricing structure and volume of Ace could meet any competition.

“I’ve spent 27 years in the hardware business,” he said. “I know where the shoppers go.”