By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
Seven Lakes Ace Hardware turns lucky seven this spring. As the store matures, it is undergoing a revamp.
“Every few years we like to change things up here at the store,” said Meredith French, the store’s manager.
Two years ago, the store moved the garden center to the back of the store in anticipation of the expansion of N.C. 211. While they were at it, they added a 2000+ square foot greenhouse.
And now they are resetting the front of the store with an expanded camping section to include RV equipment. They will offer a wider selection of coolers with more products from YETI. Recteq pellet stoves have been added to their product lines. The spice section now takes up a whopping 16 feet and boasts a greater variety for grill masters.
The boating and fishing section is growing.
“Boating is our big one,” said French “We’re catering to lake life and carrying tubing and items to have more fun on the lakes.”
Fishermen will be pleased to see more rods and reels. “We’ll have life jackets and just a little bit of everything.”
Other recreation items include collapsable chairs, soccer balls, pickleball equipment and more.
Pets haven’t been overlooked either. They can look forward to an expanded offering of pet products.
This update is customer driven.
“We’re listening for what people are looking for,” said French. “We had a lot of people looking for RV equipment and we didn’t carry it. We started listening.”
Customer service is what French believes sets Seven Lakes Ace Hardware apart.
“A lot of people say that is why they really like to come here. Our stuff is really great, and we care about our customers. They are our neighbors. Everybody who works here basically lives here. That, and our garden center is just wonderful.”
Military discounts are available to those eligible who are Ace Rewards members.
All the upgrades should largely be ready for their big event the first weekend of May which coincides with their anniversary sale. It is the fruition of four months of planning. “Its a huge team effort,” said employee Ellie Saunders. “I’m most excited for the timing of it with the boating and fishing season. It’s spot on. I love when a dad and son come in on a Saturday to pick up a rod and bait. And now there are so many options.”
The hardware store in Seven Lakes is the second Ace Hardware owned and operated by Randy Saunders and his business partners wife, Jill, and sister, Kathy Hooper.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
