Aubuchon Hardware

Aubuchon Hardware traces its roots back to 1908, when William E. Aubuchon, Sr. opened a small hardware store in Westminster, Massachusetts. Over more than a century, that single store grew into a regional network of hardware retailers operating under the Aubuchon Hardware and Aubuchon Ace Hardware names, along with several long‑standing local banners. The company remains family‑owned and has built a reputation for running stable, community‑focused hardware stores that serve both homeowners and tradespeople.

The business centers on full‑service hardware retail, offering tools, building materials, paint, lawn and garden supplies, and everyday home improvement products. Many of its locations are full‑size stores anchored in town centers or neighborhood shopping centers, often carrying well‑known local names like Cornell’s Hardware, Martin’s Hardware & Building Supply, and Bibens Ace Hardware. In recent years, the company has aligned with the Ace Hardware cooperative, which has led to many stores being rebranded as Aubuchon Ace Hardware while still keeping their local identity and staff in place.

Over the last five years, Aubuchon has expanded mainly by acquiring established, family‑owned hardware stores, especially those with strong local followings and solid sales histories. The company has added several multi‑store operators and respected single‑location shops, including Ithaca Agway Ace Hardware, Wyoming Ace Hardware, Rand’s Ace Hardware, and Wolf Family Hardware. These acquired stores typically keep their existing names, teams, and management, while gaining access to corporate support, supply chain resources, and the Ace cooperative network.

As of December 2025, Aubuchon operates 133 stores across 11 states, concentrated in the Northeast and Mid‑Atlantic, including Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, and West Virginia. Growth continues to be driven by acquisitions rather than new ground‑up development, with the company focused on taking over existing hardware businesses that already have a foothold in their communities.

For landlords and developers, Aubuchon represents a long‑standing operator with deep roots in local markets and a consistent presence in neighborhood and community shopping centers. Its strategy of acquiring and integrating existing stores, rather than building from scratch, means it often looks for available retail spaces where a hardware or home improvement tenant has already operated. The company’s emphasis on continuity and local relationships makes it a dependable, low‑turnover tenant in markets where hardware demand is steady and community‑oriented retail remains important.