Ace Hardware 2013 Annual Report Download - page 30

Forging a Path
to Success
The Alamo team is all about world-class
customer service
Alamo Ace Hardware in Alamo, Calif. was
originally part of the Yard Birds chain
and then sold to Home Depot. Owner
Christopher Kretz took over in 2007, turning it
into an Ace Hardware store and rebuilding
it into the thriving business it is today.
With 35,000 square feet, Alamo Ace is one of
the largest hardware stores in the Bay area. This
allows Alamo to showcase its unique assortments
to a broad customer base. As part of Kretz’s goal
to provide top-notch service to the surrounding
community, Alamo has developed large niche
businesses that have proven to be winners.
A separate Garden Center is open year-round,
staffed with trained associates that educate and
help customers with all their gardening needs.
Inside the store, the Kitchen Nook, spanning
close to 10,000 square feet, features everything
from a large array of housewares and kitchen
gadgets to upscale appliances designed for the
most discriminating chefs. Cooking classes and
gardening workshops entice local residents to
shop as well as learn.
The Alamo Team—Christopher Kretz, Keith
Gilbert, and Brian Riney—proudly demonstrate
every day that “Together, We Are Ace.” They are
pillars in their communities, regularly taking part
in local events hosted by the city of Alamo. In
addition to the success of the Alamo location,
Christopher Kretz and his team recently
expanded their business by opening a new store
in Danville, Calif. While this is a smaller store, the
goal is the same: to be an important part of the
community and operate one of the most helpful
stores on the planet.