Century-old hardware store closes

Leader True Value, a Zion, Ill.-based store that was opened a century ago, closed its doors in February, the Lake County News-Sun reported. The owners sited the poor economy as the reason for closing.

Charles Warren, grandfather of the present owners, founded Leader as a department store in 1909. The Warren family still operates an Ace Hardware store in Zion and a True Value store in Lindenhurst.

About 15 employees were let go due to the closing.

In February, the Zion Area Chamber of Commerce honored Leader as “Business of the Year," the article said.