79-year-old Home Depot rival closes hardware store, no bankruptcy

When looking for the right tool or accessory for a home improvement project, a quick trip to the local hardware store can be the most convenient option, as opposed to navigating a much larger big box store.

Most consumers, however, choose to visit a nearby Home Depot or Lowe’s for their hardware and home improvement needs, regardless of convenience, believing they can find whatever they need under the big-box roof. They are even willing to wait a day or so for an Amazon delivery instead of running over to the local hardware store.

Increased big-box sales have impacted smaller hardware stores that are struggling to compete and remain in business.

Independent hardware stores struggle

Independent hardware store operators, who are part of the Ace Hardware and True Value Hardware cooperatives, are facing economic challenges from competition waged by home improvement giants Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Amazon, resulting in store closures and bankruptcy filings.

Home Depot dominated the home improvement sector with 28% of the market in 2025, with Lowe’s capturing 17% of the market and Amazon generating 11% of the sector’s sales, according to the Numerator Home Improvement Tracker.

With the big three retailers capturing the lion’s share of the market with about 56% of sales, smaller chains and retailers are struggling to generate enough sales to stay in business.

Great Lakes Ace Hardware is closing its Center Line, Mich., location.

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Great Lakes Ace Hardware closes store

79-year-old hardware store operator Great Lakes Ace Hardware revealed that it will permanently close its Center Line, Mich., location on March 28.

The Farmington Hills, Mich.-based hardware store owner did not state a specific reason for closing the business.

“We have made the difficult decision to close our store at 7513 E. Ten Mile Road at the end of March,” the Facebook post said. “Thank you to the community for your support over the years.”

Store promotes closing sale

Great Lakes Ace Hardware Center Line announced on its Facebook page in February that it had begun a closing sale with 20% off of all inventory through March 28.

The hardware store operator suggested that customers in the future visit two nearby Great Lakes Ace Hardware stores at 4200 E. 9 Mile and 3830 E. 13 Mile, both in Warren, Mich.

The Center Line Ace Hardware store faced fierce competition from a Home Depot location less than 2 miles away in Warren.

The store also suffered from increased labor and product costs driven by inflation and higher tariffs, which have been a common reason for store closures by most retailers.

Great Lakes Ace Hardware was established in 1946 in Dearborn, Mich., as Hardware Depot and later became a part of Ace Retail Holdings, a subsidiary of cooperative Ace Hardware Corp.

Hardware chain operates dozens of stores

The hardware store operator’s website lists 65 locations in the Midwest, as part of the Great Lakes Ace brand.

The Great Lakes Ace stores are part of the Ace Hardware cooperative that provides buying power for hardware products and premium merchandise in paint, lawn and garden, power tools, backyard barbecue, and other niche products found in their stores.

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