Ace Hardware of Rancho Santa Margarita Opens

New 18,000-square-foot California store offers leading brands, expert service, and extensive services for homeowners and professionals.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (October 7, 2025) – The new Ace Hardware of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., officially opened its doors for business on Oct. 3, 2025.

Located at 31541 Santa Margarita Parkway (in the Mercado del Lago shopping center), the 18,000-square-foot store is fully stocked with trusted brands and offers a wide range of services to support local homeowners, DIYers, and contractors.

Cesar Velasco, a retail veteran with more than 25 years of management experience, serves as the store’s general manager. Velasco is known for his commitment to customer service and hands-on leadership. 

“We’re honored to join the Rancho Santa Margarita community,” said Velasco. “Our team is excited to welcome customers into the store and demonstrate what the Ace Helpful Promise is all about — legendary service, expert advice, and a convenient, memorable shopping experience.”

Departments and Services

Ace Hardware of Rancho Santa Margarita features a variety of specialty departments, store-within-a-store concepts, and services, including:

• Nursery — Offering live plants, flowers, succulents, shrubs, pottery, outdoor living supplies, and top gardening supplies from brands such as Scotts and Miracle-Gro. The Nursery will open later in fall 2025. 
• Backyard BBQ — As fresh, inviting, and uniquely Ace in-store experience featuring premium outdoor cooking brands like Blackstone, Weber, Traeger, and Big Green Egg.
• Power Tools and Outdoor Power — The first concept of its kind in the retail hardware space, the department showcases leading power tool brands such as Craftsman, DeWalt, and Milwaukee alongside popular outdoor power equipment brands EGO and STIHL.
• The Paint Studio — Featuring Benjamin Moore and Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines paints and paint color matching services.
• The Kitchen Connection showcases a curated selection of gourmet foods (with frequent samplings and seasonal tastings), and cookware, kitchen utensils, and linens from such leading brands as Joseph Joseph, Lodge, Now Designs, OXO, USA bakeware, and Soda Stream.

In addition to selling fasteners, hand tools, Yeti coolers and accessories, and plumbing and electrical supplies, the store also offers key cutting, automotive key fob replacement, STIHL outdoor power equipment repair, carpet cleaning machine rental, and propane tank exchange. 

Ace of Rancho Santa Margarita is owned and operated by Westlake Ace Hardware, marking their 22nd location in California. The store is the hardware retailer’s second location in Orange County (a store in Placentia opened in July 2024). Westlake Ace currently has additional stores in development in Mission Hills, Sacramento (Land Park), and San Leandro.