The Ace Hardware store in Lutz is not exactly your mom and pop hardware shop.
At one end of the business, patrons can stop in at a service desk for Sunshine Pool Service & Repair to get their pool needs met. They also can peruse shelves in that area featuring chlorine stabilizer, alkalinity increaser and other pool chemicals and supplies.
At the other end of the store, customers can find angels, snowmen, Santas and other holiday decorations at ELLA Boutique, a shop that’s dressed up for the season and well stocked with home décor and gift items.
The midsection of the store is chock full of washers, screws, garage door openers, motor oil, fasteners, paint and other stuff that’s typically found in hardware stores.
The store’s eclectic mix appeals to a broad range of customers, and it has helped the store distinguish itself as being one to watch in the industry.
Recently, the store snagged one of six national honors bestowed by Ace Hardware. It was named a 2013 “Coolest Hardware Store,” and the honor was delivered during Ace’s Platinum Conference in Las Vegas.
The store also recently received a Beacon Award for being the best new store of less than 25,000 square feet. Beacons are bestowed as part of a national industry awards program developed by The Hardware Connection magazine and The Hardware Conference. Just five hardware retailers received Beacons.
Scott Andrews and his brother Todd own the store, which is at 18469 U.S. 41 in Lutz. Scott oversees the hardware store and Todd takes care of the pool service.
Their wives, Tina and Andrea, work together to run ELLA Boutique.
ELLA draws its name from the couple’s children. E and L stand for Elaina and Lilyanna, who are Todd and Andrea’s girls. L and A stand for Luke and Alexander, who are Scott and Tina’s boys.
Even Tina’s mom, Alice McClain, gets into the act. She helps in the boutique.
The two trophies the store recently received are on proud display on a shelf at the front of the store. Directly behind this is a portrait of the two families and historic photos of Lutz.
Tina’s family has deep roots in Lutz, Scott said. Her great-grandparents were early settlers, and her grandmother was one of the first children born in the community, which dates back a century.
Scott said the idea for opening their Ace store came to him while he and Tina were driving past the shopping center to attend Tina’s grandmother’s funeral.
Before they took over the space, it was occupied by a Walgreens store. He and Todd already owned the pool store and were looking for a new location, so they decided to move it to the former Walgreens site and add the Ace Hardware. The boutique came a little later.
Besides placing great value on their family, the couples also believe in community involvement, Scott said.
“I think that is how we were raised,” Todd said.
Recently, they took part in a chili cook-off and classic car show to celebrate Lutz’s 100th birthday. They also support various organizations and charities, such as Lutz Little League, local Girl Scouts and Toys for Tots.
And, it’s not a bit unusual for a club or organization to drop by the boutique to ask them to donate an item to include in a gift basket, Tina said.
“We applaud the team at Lutz Ace Hardware for their commitment to providing a consistently amazing shopping experience for the local community,” said Kane Calamari, vice president of retail operations and new business at Ace Hardware Corporation, in announcing the award, in a news release.
It was a huge honor, the brothers said, noting their district manager, Tom Parman, nominated them for the highly coveted Ace award.
Of 4,700 Ace Hardware stores nationwide, just six were honored.
