Westlake Ace Hardware Expands into Maryland

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (April 17, 2024) – Westlake Ace Hardware announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Clarks Ace Hardware, a 179-year-old hardware retailer with two locations in Maryland: Ellicott City (10325 Baltimore National Pike) and Columbia (8895 McGaw Road).

The Clarks Ace stores will be rebranded as Westlake Ace but will retain store management and personnel and much of the current product mix. It is anticipated that the acquisition will be completed on June 23, 2024.

Clarks Ace was founded in 1845 by John L. Clark and has become the third-oldest family-owned hardware retailer in America. According to Margaret Clark, owner and member of the seventh generation of the Clark family to manage the business, “Clarks has a long lineage of helping our community through retail hardware. It is important to pass the torch to a company that holds the same standard of treating people and our communities well. Westlake Ace has similar core values, good benefits, and will bring growth opportunities to our team members. I’m fully confident the business will continue to provide excellent customer service to Howard County and surrounding communities for generations to come.”

“Countless generations of homeowners have depended on Clarks Ace to provide world-class service, community support, and the products they need to get their projects done right. Westlake Ace is also a company with a long history, so we truly understand the importance of continuity and maintaining a tradition of excellence in the communities where we do business,” said Joe Jeffries, president and CEO of Ace Retail Holdings, the parent company of Westlake Ace Hardware.

“It is an incredible honor to continue Clarks Ace’s legacy. We look forward to showing our new friends, neighbors, and customers in Ellicott City and Columbia how we live the Ace Helpful Promise every day,” Jeffries added.

About Clarks Ace Hardware

Founded in 1845, Clarks Ace Hardware is the third-oldest family-owned hardware store business in America. With stores in Ellicott City and Columbia, MD, Clarks is dedicated to delivering superior customer service, adapting quickly to changes in the hardware business, giving back to the communities it serves, and leveraging the latest technologies to ensure its customers always have the products they need.