Videos Login Subscribe Renew E-edition
logo
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
  • News
  • Features
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Letters
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Legal Notices
    • Read Statewide Legal Notices
  • Archives
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Letters
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Legal Notices
      • Read Statewide Legal Notices
    • Archives
Feature
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com on October 30, 2024
New hardware store a family affair
Hill, Fedel families partner to open Ace Hardware in Ridgway

When the Family Dollar store closed in Ridgway earlier this spring, Ace Hardware saw an opportunity.

And the Hill and Fedel families, in turn, saw an opportunity to bring another family-run business into the fold.

Ouray County welcomed its third hardware store earlier this month when Ace Hardware opened its doors at 283 Palomino Trail in Ridgway, offering a host of high-end, name brand products the owners say can’t be found without a drive to Montrose.

The store’s beginnings started with the end of Family Dollar, one of several hundred stores its parent company, Dollar Tree, closed earlier this year. Ace Hardware has taken over several brick and mortar locations formerly occupied by Family Dollar because the footprints are identical to many of Ace’s stores. The company approached Darin and Valerie Hill and asked if they would be interested in opening an Ace in the roughly 5,000-square-foot building.

The Ridgway couple is quite familiar with Ace. The Hills own and operate Ace Hardware stores in four other locations — one in Rangely, two in Texas and one in Arizona.

They also know something about family businesses. They run Mountain Market in Ridgway, and they are partnering with their daughter and son-in-law, Alyssa and Tom Fedel, to own and operate the Ace Hardware store. The Fedels own Ouray Grocery and Ouray Liquors and are managing the hardware store on a day-to-day basis.

“We decided this would be a great way to integrate family into the business,” Valerie Hill said.

Hill noted Ace sells brands not found in True Value hardware stores in Ridgway or Ouray, such as Stihl and Craftsman, and that the Ridgway Ace will service Stihl tools. The store also does not sell lumber, which is offered at the Ridgway hardware store.

The new store also offers a variety of other merchandise shoppers would otherwise have to drive to Montrose or go online to purchase, such as outdoor cooking equipment like Traeger and Big Green Egg, Solo Stove fire pits, Ooni pizza ovens, Ego cordless outdoor power tools and Benjamin Moore paint.

Ridgway Ace Hardware store manager Caleb Lewis checks the price on a pizza peel in the front of the store, where an assortment of grills, smokers and pizza ovens are stocked. The new store opened at the former Family Dollar location, at 283 Palomino Trail, earlier this month, after Ace Hardware approached the Hill family about opening up the Ridgway location. Erin McIntyre – Ouray County Plaindealer

 

Hill said customers can also special order items, and order items online and have them delivered to the Ridgway store.

Some residents have viewed the opening of the store with skepticism, wondering why Ouray County needs three hardware stores or whether it can support all three. Hill believes it can.

“Ace and True Value are two totally different animals, offer two totally different products and brands,” she said. “You can go to True Value and get things you can’t pick up at Ace.”

Hill compared having another hardware store opening in Ouray County to the variety of multiple restaurants and bars operating in town.

 

Ridgway Ace Hardware employees pose at the front counter. From left to right are sales associates Steve Smyth and Sue Melchior and store manager Caleb Lewis. The store plans on offering maintenance services for Stihl and it also carries a wide variety of tools, housewares, hardware and cleaning products as well as some pet supplies and small appliances. Erin McIntyre – Ouray County Plaindealer

 

“Everybody fills their own little niche and there’s enough business to go around,” she said.

Ridgway’s Ace Hardware store is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Saving Swiss Village
Main, News...
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRESERVED
Saving Swiss Village
Collaboration to buy Ouray mobile home park could serve as model elsewhere in Colorado, as residents celebrate with applause, tears
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 18, 2025
It took an attorney willing to work for free and hop on a midnight phone call in the middle of her vacation. It took two couples who had never met before performing remarkable acts of generosity and h...
this is a test
Main, News...
Fireworks shot at homes
Council enacts blanket ban as police look for truck
By By Mike Wiggins, Erin McIntyre and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com 
June 18, 2025
Ouray city leaders moved swiftly this week to ban all personal fireworks in the city, days after homes near Lee’s Ski Hill were shot with a barrage of pyrotechnics on Sunday night that ignited multipl...
this is a test
Home Trust to close on rental property
News
Home Trust to close on rental property
Ouray triplex will be retained as affordable housing
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 18, 2025
Five new affordable rental units are coming to the city of Ouray, as the Home Trust of Ouray County will close next month on its second affordable housing acquisition. The property at 835 Second St. i...
this is a test
News
Sex assault trial delayed
Defense seeks DNA expert; attorneys disagree on possible venue change
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 18, 2025
The trial of one of three men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl inside the home of the former Ouray police chief has been delayed. Nate Dieffenderffer, 20, was scheduled to stand trial...
this is a test
News
City pulls back on plans for Fellin Park stage
Search on for funding as price tag drops to between $1M and $1.6M
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
June 18, 2025
Ouray city councilors are much happier with revised plans for a permanent stage in Fellin Park. Now the challenge is finding money to pay for it. Councilors on Monday looked at two scenarios that drop...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
RV Park’s treatment has long-lasting effect
June 18, 2025
Dear Editor: My mother and father bought a trailer at the 4J+1+1 RV Park in 2005 and loved living there. My mom even lived there alone for 10 years after my dad passed. She is getting older so we buil...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Commit to climate action
June 18, 2025
Dear Editor: I salute Hansa Devi and the Ridgway Town Council for their part in making Ridgway, Colorado, the first in the world to fly the Earth Flag! In 2023 the Pew Research Center study found that...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
New building a wart on face of mountain
June 18, 2025
Dear Editor: During the past few months myself, valley floor ranch folks, Ridgway residents and others have been asking about the building that has been under construction for a period of time located...
this is a test
Looking Back
Looking Back
Looking Back
June 18, 2025
50 Years Ago June 19, 1975 Dick Guadagno, Ridgway, came to the Ouray City Council meeting Monday night to ask council approval of a project to renovate the historic Horsethief Trail this summer. Guada...
this is a test
News
SMPA delays Ouray work until August
Power cooperative vows to improve communication with city
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
June 18, 2025
San Miguel Power Association is postponing work to replace power poles and more in the city of Ouray until late August because of delays in getting supplies. The company rescheduled the dates earlier ...
this is a test
News
City seeks parking solutions
Priorities: Turnover on Main Street, more parking on side streets
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 18, 2025
Ouray city leaders want to encourage turnover of parking spaces on Main Street and utilize more parking on side streets, while creating more enforceable parking rules. Those were just some of the prio...
this is a test
Facebook

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Ouray County Plaindealer

  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Accessibility Policy