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Whitefish’s Ace Hardware moves locations after 70 years

Posted at 4:48 PM, Mar 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-04 19:54:03-05

WHITEFISH – After 70 years and three generations of ownership, Ace Hardware moved from this iconic mom-and-pop downtown Whitefish location on Central Avenue to US 93 South in Whitefish.

It took only seven months to build the brand new 14,000 square foot building.

While Ace desperately needed more space, owner Mariah Joos tells us the move has been sentimental.

Joos’ family first purchased the original Ace Hardware on Central Ave in 1948. Her father and his brother then took over the business in 1974.

She tells MTN that her father and her uncle used to play in a sandbox in the alleyway behind the old Ace Hardware location.

And now, it’s Joos’ turn to take care of the store. Joos grew up working at Ace Hardware her whole life and sees firsthand how fast Whitefish is growing and how much this new space is needed.

“This move was not easy, it was not taken lightly. The reality was if we wanted to be viable for the next 25 years we needed to make some sort of change,” says Joos.

“It brings forward a lot of mixed feelings about how Whitefish is changing. And it’s not bad that Whitefish is changing.”

The new Ace Hardware location has more parking space for customers and a location for drop-off and pick-up. And of course, the new location still serves it’s traditional popcorn in the store, a customer favorite.