Our Story
The Helpful Hardware Company is an independent hardware retailer operating 21 stores carrying the Ace Hardware brand. Our story began more than a century ago with a simple idea: serve the community by providing the products people need, along with practical advice and genuinely helpful service. That philosophy has remained at the heart of our company through generations of change, growth, and innovation.
In 1918, Joe Boling and C.G. Bettis opened the original business in Cumming, Georgia. They were visionaries who recognized an important need in their growing community: a place where customers could find everything from nails and hand tools to farming equipment.
The business initially operated from a small, one-bedroom house before moving into an 1,800-square-foot building in 1951. The new location added gas pumps and a mill that produced flour and cornmeal.
In 1960, another 4,000 square feet was added, transforming the business into Forsyth County's first "buggy-pushing" supermarket.
Through every stage of its early history, the business was more than a place to purchase products. Customers relied on the people behind the counter for practical advice and solutions. That relationship between the store and the community became a defining part of the company's identity.
As manufacturing expanded after World War II and suburban growth fueled homeownership and the do-it-yourself movement, the business evolved to meet changing customer needs.
In 1979, the building supply portion of the business was sold and became Midway Building Supply. The transaction marked the beginning of the company's Ace Hardware era with the opening of Ace Hardware Midway in Alpharetta, Georgia.
On October 5, 1984, Ace Hardware Midway moved to a new building at 4947 Highway 9. A small-engine shop was added in 1986, followed by additional improvements and expansions over the years.
In 1996, the company acquired Sibley-Roper Hardware at 2000 Canton Highway in Cumming, Georgia. Three years later, in 1999, the company built a 24,000-square-foot facility at 4715 Hammond Industrial Drive in Cumming, opening its third location.
After nearly five decades of serving the community, the company had evolved from a single local business into a growing hardware organization—with the same commitment to serving the communities surrounding its stores.
As the company grew, it expanded into new communities while maintaining its focus on helpful service and relevant products.
- 2014 – Ace Hardware of Woodmont opened in Canton, Georgia
- 2016 – Ace Hardware Three Fountains opened in West Columbia, South Carolina
- 2018 – The company entered the Nashville, Tennessee market through the acquisition of three existing stores:
- Ace Hardware of Donelson
- Ace Hardware of Springfield
- Ace Hardware of White House
Throughout this period, the leadership team remained focused on providing customers with products that met their needs and the knowledgeable, personal service that has always distinguished independent hardware retailers.
The hardware industry has changed dramatically over the years. The arrival and rapid expansion of national home improvement chains introduced large-format stores, extensive product assortments, and aggressive pricing, creating new competitive pressures for independent retailers.
Yet independent hardware stores continued to demonstrate an important competitive advantage: they know their customers.
They understand the neighborhoods they serve, the projects their customers are working on, and the unique needs of their communities.
As the original ownership team reached a point where they were ready to move into the next chapter of their lives, they began looking for a path forward that would preserve the company's legacy while creating new opportunities for its employees, customers, and communities.
In 2019, the eight-store chain was acquired by JPB Partners and rebranded as The Helpful Hardware Company, LLC.
JPB Partners recognized the strength and potential of independent hardware retailers that combine modern retail practices with the personalized service that has defined the industry for generations.
The partnership also recognized the value of the company's community roots and its ability to identify local needs and opportunities.
JPB brought additional resources and expertise that enabled The Helpful Hardware Company to continue scaling the business while investing in the people, technology, merchandising, and operational capabilities needed to carry the company's legacy forward.
That partnership has proven successful. Since 2019, The Helpful Hardware Company has continued to expand its presence through acquisitions and new opportunities:
- 2020 – Ace Hardware Duncan, Goose Creek, South Carolina
- 2020 – Walker Hardware Supply & Rental, Springfield, Tennessee
- 2021 – Indian Trail Hardware, Indian Trail, North Carolina
- 2021 – Brookstone Ace Hardware, Kennesaw, Georgia
- 2021 – Southern Home & Garden, Carrollton, Georgia
- 2022 – Ace Hardware Cordova, Cordova, Tennessee
- 2022 – Ace Hardware Holly Hill, Holly Hill, South Carolina
- 2023 – Ace Hardware North Hall, Gainesville, Georgia
- 2023 – Ace Hardware Bethlehem, Hickory, North Carolina
- 2023 – Ace Hardware Ladson, Ladson, South Carolina
- 2024 – Ace Hardware Mint Hill, Mint Hill, North Carolina
- 2025 – Jordan's Ace Hardware, Union, South Carolina
- 2026 – Jones Hometown Hardware, Jackson, Georgia
Each acquisition represents more than another location. It represents an opportunity to build on an existing legacy, preserve local relationships, support employees, and provide the resources needed for an independent hardware business to thrive in the future.
