Longtime Westmont Store Closing, Owner Retiring

WESTMONT, IL – Westmont's Ace Hardware store is expected to close this fall upon the owner's retirement.

In the spring, the Westmont Village Board voted to buy the property at 20 E. Quincy St. for $3 million.

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According to the agreement, the sale is to close Jan. 29 or at an earlier agreed-upon date.

In a news release earlier this year, the village said it was buying the site for the "purpose of coordinating future economic development in the area."

Towns often buy such properties to sell to developers, with an eye on increasing the property tax base.

Bales Lumber & Supply Ace Hardware started on April Fools' Day 1960. In 1969, a fire destroyed the original building, according to the village.

At a March meeting, village officials said the family was retiring from the business. On hand were Stan Bales Sr. and Stan Bales Jr.

According to the news release, Stan Jr. was in his 46th year with the business, saying he has worked every weekend since 1979.

"I live a few blocks south of here," he told the Village Board. "I'm hoping I'll still see most of you at the Jewel or one of the Westmont events."