Sentinel photo by TOM LAUB
Ace Hardware, located at 202 S. Dorcas St., Lewistown, opened for business on Oct. 18.

LEWISTOWN — When Grant Rosenberger opened his first Ace Hardware store in the South Hills Plaza in State College in 2009, he always knew he wanted to open a second location.

“It had to be a good fit, and I didn’t want to be too far from State College,” said the 45-year-old hardware store owner, who lives in State College.

More than a decade later, Rosenberger opened his second Ace Hardware store in Lewistown, located at 202 S. Dorcas St., on Oct. 18.

“This has been over a year in the making,” said Rosenberger, who decided on Lewistown as the destination for his second store in early 2020-21. He noticed that there was a need for a locally-owned hardware store.

“I heard that Lewistown had lost some of its hardware stores and that it was a great community,” Rosenberger explained. “So far, it’s been true.”

He chose to set up shop near the Giant because he knew that grocery stores bring customers to the plaza. Previously, at least one drug store and a discount retailer were housed in the space at various times.

“We picked the location because the traffic here is really good,” he said. “The Giant is always busy. We’ve had a steady stream of customers here even though we haven’t done any advertising.”

Rosenberger thinks it is a sign of more good things to come.

Growing up in State College, Rosenberger moved out of the area after high school. His background is in business, but after living in Philadelphia, he wanted to move to central Pennsylvania.

“I talked to the owner of the Ace Hardware store in the Philadelphia region, and they wanted to have a store back in State College,” Rosenberger said. “It went from there.”

Rosenberger followed a similar plan when opening his Lewistown location as he did in State College. Since then, he has built a loyal following of customers, who come in for the service that he and his staff provide.

Initially, the Lewistown store will carry basic hardware supplies for plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden, tools and loose nuts and bolts. They will also be a Benjamin Moore paint dealer and hope to eventually carry a full range of products.

Rosenberger also said starting in November the store plans to stock Steele products, including gas-, electric- and battery-powered chain saws, leaf blowers and weed eaters.

Since Ace Hardware stores are locally owned and operated, Rosenberger said the store can stock products geared to the needs of customers in the Lewistown area.

“Over time, we will learn what the local market is asking for and will start to carry those products,” Rosenberger said.

The new location employees 10 associates. A grand opening for the store is planned.

“We are excited to be here in Lewistown,” he added.

Ace Hardware is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call (717) 242-3333 or visit acehardware.com.