Bob’s Ace Hardware closing after 60 years in business
October 26th, 2009 at 04:40pm Melissa Westphal
Steve and Janice Westlund in a 2002 Register Star file photo at Bob’s Ace Hardware.
Bob’s Ace Hardware, a business fixture on Rockford’s southeast side, is closing its doors.
Steve Westlund, who owns and runs the store with his wife Janice, said today the decision to close was made for several reasons. The bad economy was a factor, but Westlund, who is 59, said he and his wife are ready to retire.
“We’ve had a lot of good years in Rockford, and we want to thank the community for everything,” Westlund said.
The store will be closed on Tuesday, Oct. 27, so employees can prepare the space for its liquidation sale. The store will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays until inventory, fixtures and equipment are sold.
Westlund said everything in stock will be sold at 50 percent off the regular price, including shelving, tools, housewares, gifts, paint and clothing.
The Westlund family owns the Ace building. Westlund said he’s had offers to buy the business, but he thinks the tough economy has made it difficult to pull deals together. He assumes the family will sell the building but said that decision will be made later.
Bob’s Ace Hardware is located at 2710 20th St., near 20th Street and Harrison Avenue. Call the store at 815-398-0111 for more information.
Entry Filed under: closings
20 Comments Add your own
1. FrankyG | October 26th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
You Will Be Missed…Bobs is/was Like a Dear old Friend…Alawys there and always ready and wiling to Help.
Thank you All at Bobs.
2. Rose | October 26th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
That’s so sad, they provided that small-town feeling of one on one service. But in the end, it was probably too difficult to compete with the bigger box stores. Wish them the best and a wonderful retirement, and THANK YOU for your service. You will be missed.
3. m.c. | October 26th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
This comes as no surprise to me
4. ken nelson | October 26th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
When I worked at the newspaper I used to create the Bob’s Hardware ads for several years. Janice and Steve are two of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure and privilege of knowing and working with.
It’s a shame that Bob’s is closing but everything good must come to an end. I know from experience.
I wish them both a many happy years of retirement and hope they both get a red Bob’s Hardware vest with name tags.
Happy Trails to you both.
Ken
5. Kelly | October 26th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
This is truly sad, especially for the neighborhood. We would always shop @ Bob’s for the convience as well as supporting local business. So sorry to hear this.
6. ken nelson | October 26th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
It’s a sad state of affairs that Bob’s Hardware is closing. An iconic store for 60 years. Everyone knew Bob’s Hardware.
I created their newspaper ads for several years when I worked at the Register Star and you’d be hard pressed to find any owners who worked as hard or cared for their employees as much as Bob, Steve and Janice did.
Steve and Janice are two of the best people I was associated with but in today’s world money wins out over loyalty. As they say, all good things must come to an end.
I wish them many happy years of retirement and I hope someone gives them the obligatory Bob’s Hardware Vests as retirement gifts.
They will be missed.
Happy Trails to both of them.
Ken Nelson
PS…. I posted something earlier but it must be lost in cyberspace
7. ken nelson | October 26th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Please feel free to delete either of my comments. I don’t think I should have two of them up.
8. denny johnson | October 26th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
We owe their family a great deal of thanks for offering the community a great store and over the years has employed many in our community. They took risk. Invested their money in our region. Now relax and enjoy……knowing our community appreciated Bob’s Hardware for many years.
9. Chuck Sweeny | October 27th, 2009 at 12:54 am
Bob’s was a full service hardware store where people actually knew what they were selling. Thanks for serving the southeast Rockford community, Westlund family.
Don’t fear, though, home-fixer-uppers, chore-doers and tradesmen still have Nicholson’s. I rate home projects by how many hardware store trips it is likely to take me.. “This plumbing job is going to be Four Nicholson.”
10. QuentinK | October 27th, 2009 at 8:09 am
What a hole that is going to leave in that part of town.When I lived in Rolling Green Bob’s was the one place you could count on. I drove down 11th street for the first time in awhile and couldn’t believe all the closed businesses. This town is evaporating. It’s sad but one day the Wal-marts will start closing and THAT will make me happy.
11. gp | October 27th, 2009 at 9:47 am
So sorry to see them go.
12. Pat Mc Ginnnis | October 27th, 2009 at 11:42 am
This store was a unique hardware store. A little of everything. Too bad it was run into the ground. Maybe somebody will reopen it. Even the wife liked going to Bobs.
13. John Larson | October 27th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Thanks for the memories Bob’s.
Time to try a new store. Tri B Hardware on Charles Street next to East High has a large inventory and are very helpful.
14. dave | October 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I’ts sad, they have to close. This current administration just is making it to hard for small business to survive. If obama’s healthcare passes you will see lots more of this. He does nothing to help busness.
This country leadership is run amoke, Chicago style in DC is not going to work, we will be lucky if we have a country left.
15. will | October 27th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Maybe they could pay back the money they robbed from Machesney park, how much did they get???
These people are bad business owners, if you can’t keep a hardware
store open in a area that has no other hardware stores any where around, you got big problems running a business.
16. NurseGloria | October 27th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Can’t imagine a world without Bob’s Ace Hardware.
17. Ernie | October 27th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Bob’s was a good place to go with service people that had a lot of experience. I looked forward to shopping at Bob’s so I could grab a couple of bags of sweets to satisfy my sweet tooth. I will now be shopping at Tri-B hardware on Charles street for my hardware needs. There building is smaller but they have a good selection to choose from.
18. R.C | October 29th, 2009 at 9:22 am
I did my whole house plumbing thru Bob\’s while I went to the other stores years ago and they couldn\’t help me with all the parts. Bob\’s had everyrthing then Plus the experienced help of retired home improvement help.. But with the larger box stores like Menards,Home Depot, Lowe\’s maturing and expanding and much cheaper China imports has hurt the hardware small guys and smaller stores overall. It is hard to compete with that. But one thing bob\’s had was service for everything under one roof. Window or lawn eqp. repair. Thanks for the great help over the decades.
19. Chris | October 31st, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Don’t forget about Zanacco Ace on Alpine rd. They also have a good assortment as well as a friendly knowledgeable staff.
20. swampy | November 4th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Sad to see them go, but saw it coming when they weren’t restocking certain items over the last few months. They recently repaired over a dozen screens for my home, had it all done the next day. The help I received in the plumbing department was extremely helpful. All the best to those now unemployeed.
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