February 11, 2025 10:52 pm

The premier news source for Snohomish County

Ace Hardware celebrates 100 years with nationwide block party

LAKE STEVENSAce Hardware, the world’s largest hardware retail cooperative, celebrated 100 years of operation with a nationwide block party on Saturday, June 29, featuring exclusive deals, live music and delicious barbecue.

Participating Snohomish County stores included Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, and Lake Stevens.

Ace Hardware
Inside the Lake Stevens Ace Hardware on June 29, 2024. SOURCE: Lake Stevens Ace Hardware.

“We’re not just celebrating a milestone; we’re celebrating a century of being part of every neighborhood we serve,” said Kim Lefko, Chief Marketing Officer at Ace Hardware. “Our 100th Anniversary Block Party and the special July offers are our way of inviting everyone to join the festivities, whether they celebrate with us in person at their local store or through great deals on everything they need for summer fun. It’s our thank-you to the communities that have supported us for 100 years, and we’re excited to make this celebration our biggest yet.”

At the Lake Stevens store specifically owner Christine Egelstad told the Lynnwood Times she feels the store “went all out for [its] community” featuring reps from Traeger, Weber, and Big Green Egg grill companies firing up delicious food for the public including chicken fried rice, smoked pork tenderloin, mac and cheese, pizza, grilled vegetables, smoked meatballs, mashed cinnamon rolls, and grilled corn.

Ace Hardware
The Lake Stevens Ace Hardware on June 29, 2024. SOURCE: Lake Stevens Ace Hardware.

Live music was also performed by Egelstad’s future son-in-law and his friend—two musicians based out of Lynnwood who perform drum and keyboard music.

If Egelstad had to guess she would estimate there were over a thousand customers that came to celebrate that Saturday, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. during the barbecue.

Egelstad, who also serves as Group Leader for Western Washington Ace stores, has been with Ace since 1993 under the company’s previous owners back when it was still called Ace Stores, a coast-to-coast hardware retail chain.

Egelstad and her husband purchased the 20,000 square-foot Lake Stevens Ace Hardware store in 2009 and has been operating it ever since.

Ace Hardware
The Lake Stevens Ace Hardware on June 29, 2024. SOURCE: Lake Stevens Ace Hardware.

The store was originally built in 1965 but has been moved around the city three times since. In 2000 it moved to its current location at 303 91st Ave NE B200 in Lake Stevens. The Lake Stevens location has over 50,000 different items of inventory if Egelstad had to guess but any inventory item can be ordered on AceHardware.com and ready for pickup within a couple of days.

Operating a business in Lake Stevens is fantastic. We have immense community support which is our customers and without our customers we can’t give back to the community, which is my favorite thing about owning a business – getting involved, do good work, and make the community thrive,” said Egelstad.

For years Egelstad and her husband have continued to do their part in giving back to the community by donating to the Lake Stevens Food Bank and the Seattle Children’s Hospital via the company’s charity, Children’s Miracle Network. Last year The Lake Stevens Ace Hardware store donated $80,000 via this charity and, according to Egelstad, the store is on course to make a similar donation this year.

The Lake Stevens Ace Hardware also continually partners with the Lake Stevens Creator Center, a community-based nonprofit that offers a space for arts and crafts, and donates to the Boys and Girls Club.

Their biggest passion in recent years has been helping the Lake Stevens Food Bank build a brand-new facility, which opened in 2023. Last year customer donations, in addition to a donation made by the store itself, totaled $72,000.

“Our customers every day have the chance to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar and that money goes to the Lake Stevens Food Bank,” said Egelstad.

Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware Mukilteo BBQ. Lynnwood Times | Mario Lotmore

As each Ace Hardware store is privately owned and independently operated, each location can decide which organization they donate to. The Mukilteo location, for example, donates annually to the YMCA to help children go to camp.

Egelstad informed the Lynnwood Times that customers who visit her Lake Stevens location can expect to be greeted as they walk through the door, be provided with excellent customer service, get them to the right aisle and have team members in the aisle able to help.

Egelstad’s favorite thing about owning an Ace Hardware store is making connections with other business owners, being able to sponsor local organizations and community events. It’s the giving back part that keeps her motivated, she shared with the Lynnwood Times.

This upcoming September, the Lake Stevens Ace Hardware location will also be holdings its second annual pizza cook-off, partnering with the Lake Stevens Food Bank. To keep up to date with all of the upcoming events taking place at Ace Hardware in Lake Stevens visit their Facebook page.

Ace was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1924 by Richard Hesse, who retired from the company in 1973. At that time Ace transferred ownership to its retailers, becoming a retailer-owned cooperative under the new name Ace Hardware.

As of 2023, Ace operates more than 5,600 locally owned hardware stores in all 50 states and 70 countries with global sales toppling $20 billion.

Top July Deals at Participating Ace Hardware Stores from June 26 through July 30 include:

  • Select CRAFTSMAN V20 Power Tools, Outdoor Power, Hand Tools & Accessories – Save 20%
  • Select Traeger Grills – Save up to $300*
  • Smokey Woods BBQ Grilling Pellets, 20-lb. bag, Ace Exclusive – Mix & Match 2 for $25
  • Loud Mouth™ Barbeque, Ace Exclusive – Buy 3, Get 10% off
  • Clark+Kensington and Royal Paint – Gallons 50% off**
  • Magnolia Home Products – Save 20%
  • Weber Spirit Grills – $50 off***
  • Big Green Egg X-Large Ceramic Grill & Smoker Kit – On Sale for $1,959.99
  • Weber 30 Slate 3-Burner Outdoor Griddle, Ace Exclusive – On Sale for $749**
  • Pop-Up Canopies, 10’x10’ – On Sale for $79.99
  • Select Living Accents 9’ Market Umbrellas – On Sale for $49.99
  • Buy Select Milwaukee PACKOUT Tool Storage, Coolers or Tumblers – Spend $149, Get a 20-oz. Red Tumbler for FREE; or Spend $249, Get a Red Compact 5-Compartment Organizer and 20-oz. Red Tumbler for FREE
  • Buy Milwaukee M18 FUEL ½ Brushless Hammer Drill/Driver Kit for $299 – Get Select M18 Power Tool (Bare Tools) for FREE (up to $229 value)
  • EGO POWER+ 56 Volt Handheld Blower or String Trimmer – On Sale for $199
  • Wild Bird Food, 20-lb. Bag – 2 for $20**
  • Select DEWALT 20V Max Power Tools or Battery 2-Pack – Ace Rewards Exclusive: Save $60 Instantly
  • Ortho Inside Home Defense – Ace Rewards Members Save $3
  • Weed Killer – Ace Rewards Members Save $4
Kienan Briscoe
Author: Kienan Briscoe

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