The Peru Gazette

L-R Mrs.Jason Trombley, Deb Defayette, Greg Stanley, Jennifer Duell Stanley, Allison Stanley, Holly and Ken Besaw

Will Aubuchon Thanks Store Manager Jason Trombley and the store team.

Benjamin Moore and other product reps are on-site

Will Aubuchon ready to cut the 37th ribbon in the last 17 months.

By John T. Ryan

Peru, NY, July 18, 2025 – Customers of Aubuchon have noticed many changes taking place in the store over the past few weeks. Today, the much-anticipated Grand Reopening of Aubuchon Ace Hardware has arrived. Excitement filled the air this morning among the Aubuchon staff and everyone in attendance.

Aubuchon CEO Will Aubuchon paid tribute to Steve Duell, who passed away earlier this year. Addressing Steve’s family, Aubuchon stated, “I’m sure Steve is here in spirit. He managed this store for 43 incredible years and treated it like his own. He loved the store, his team, and his community.” Aubuchon also expressed gratitude to the store team, led by Jason Trombley, who kept operations running smoothly during the transition. Meanwhile, Aubuchon’s transition team worked diligently to remove walls, reorganize the layout, paint, and install new flooring.

Mr. Aubuchon shared his family’s long history in the hardware business with the Peru Gazette: “In 1908, my great-great-grandfather bought the store where he had been working in Pittsburgh, MA. Five years later, his brother joined him, and nine years after that, they opened their second store. Today, we operate 130 stores across 10 states, from Virginia to Maine.”

Aubuchon explained that Ace Hardware Corporation is a retail-owned cooperative and that Aubuchon is now one of its member retailers. “As an Ace member, we can buy from a much larger distributor network and take advantage of Ace’s strong marketing. It’s a way for the ‘little guys’ to compete against the big guys,” he noted.

Customers can expect subtle variations between different Aubuchon Ace stores, as Aubuchon emphasized that each community’s needs differ. What sells well in Saratoga may not sell in Peru, so Aubuchon Ace tailors its inventory accordingly. Ace Hardware brings a rich selection of outdoor grills and power tools, featuring brands like Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Craftsman. The reorganization of the store has led to a significant increase in product inventory.

In total, 75% of the company’s will adopt the Aubuchon Ace name, while 25% will continue to operate under the Aubuchon name due to the presence of another Ace dealer in those markets. Over the past seventeen months, similar “reopening” events have been held at thirty-seven stores.

The Grand Reopening event is happening until 7 p.m. this evening, 7:30 a.m. tp 6 p.m. on Saturday, and on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thera-Pets, a Peru-based animal-assisted therapy program, will be serving hot dogs and burgers on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 or 2 p.m. The little goats from Thera-Pets bleated their approval throughout today’s ceremony.