NOBLE SQUARE — A prominent Ace Hardware along Ashland Avenue that has served Noble Square since 1911 will be closing and the 120-year-old building it occupies will likely be torn down to make way for a new residential development, officials announced Monday.
"We have the sad task to announce that Ace Ashland/Ashland Paint and Hardware will close before the end of the year," said Ann-Marie Hanson, vice president of the store, which originally was a paint shop before becoming an Ace Hardware in 1964.
"We value this community and appreciate the support and patronage of neighbors and friends throughout our many years in business, " Hanson said in a post on the shop's Facebook page, which also announced a private invitation-only markdown sale on Wednesday.
The news of the neighborhood staple's closure at 1013 N. Ashland Ave. has surprised a community of loyal shoppers and other hardware shop owners.
When asked about the impetus for the closure, Hanson, who runs the shop with her brother, Carmine Macchiaroli, said, "It's just time to close. It's very hard to do."
On Tuesday, Carmine Macchiaroli said, "What I will miss most are the people, the customers, my neighbors. my coworkers and employees. I consider them all my friends."
Macchiaroli, who has worked at the shop since 1986, said there are 11 people who work at the hardware shop and three additional folks who work offsite.
Alan Gillman, owner of Gillman Ace Hardware at 2118-20 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Logan Square, said that he was surprised to hear of the closing.
"I am shocked to hear it. Sometimes we would send each other customers. I am sad to see any Ace go. It's a tough business, I'd hate to see a small guy go out, leave the working world because we are being taken over by the big guys," said Gillman, whose family has operated an Ace Hardware in Logan Square for 68 years.
Unlike a franchise, the Ace Hardware shops operate as a co-op and are all individually owned; the store owners pool resources to buy products from the Ace Corporation, Gillman said.
Baum Realty Group is selling the building for the Macchiaroli family, said Greg Dietz, a Baum vice president.
A real estate listing describes the building as a "rare opportunity to acquire a large contiguous parcel" spanning six city lots.
The nearly 15,000-square-foot Ace building, which sits on a 19,000-square-foot lot at 1011-23 N. Ashland Ave., is 120-years-old, according to county records.
Since putting the building up for sale in mid-August, Dietz said that his firm received close to 10 offers within the first week.
"In the Noble Square, Ukrainian Village and Wicker Park area, there are not many sites like that. That was very attractive," Dietz said.
Ditez confirmed that there is a contract pending for the sale of the building, which is scheduled to be bought before the end of the year by a "reputable local residential real estate developer" who has worked on other projects in the area, Dietz said.
Dietz said he suspects the buyer will be tearing down the building to pave the way for new apartments or condos.
"Being a Wicker Park resident, I have shopped there, too, and I am sad to see them go. But I also look forward to that parcel's next life," Dietz said.
Ace Ashland Hardware will be hosting an invitation-only preview sale with up to 50-percent off regular prices from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to its Facebook page. After Wednesday's sale, the public going-out-of-business sales are scheduled to begin on Thursday, Hanson said.
Hanson was not immediately able to say if the store is planning to relocate or when the date of closure would be, outside of being before the end of the year.
Carmine Macchiaroli, said, "I have no statement regarding the potential for relocation other to say I would welcome an opportunity to open a modern urban store in a suitable location."
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