Ace breaks ground for Ohio distribution center

A groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday drew representatives from Ace and local business leaders to the site of a future retail support center in West Jefferson, Ohio.

The co-op expects the 500,000-sq.-ft. facility to be completed in July 2014. The facility will essentially replace an older facility currently operating in Toledo.

“Ace is pleased to break ground on this state-of-the-art facility,” said Rick Whitson, VP retail support, Ace Hardware Corp. “Our new Retail Support Center in West Jefferson will play an integral part in Ace’s overall supply chain, carrying as many as 16,000 different products to supply hundreds of Ace retailers and, in turn, serve thousands of consumers.”

The co-op operates 14 retail support centers.

The West Jefferson facility will serve Ace Hardware retail locations throughout Ohio, parts of Michigan, Eastern Indiana and Northern Kentucky. It will also employ approximately 100 Ace team members locally.

The warehouse will have the capability to expand by more than 280,000 sq. ft. to meet future growth needs. The facility will be furnished with 84 dock doors, as well as power equipment that will run by hydrogen fuel cell technology.