Ace Hardware Will Close this Winter

Only a handful of cars were in the parking lot outside Ace Hardware at 246 Main Street Tuesday afternoon. A giant banner saying "Storewide Sale" hung on the outside of the building and a large sign inside the entrance advertised 20 to 30 percent off on everything in the store. 

Jackie Simmons of Trumbull confirmed what many people in town have already been talking about, Ace Hardware will close. While filling her trunk with items from her shopping cart, Simmons said she went to Ace often and will miss it.

"It's sad that a community store is being shut down," Simmons said. "They were really nice people who worked in there. We went there during Sandy when we needed firewood, batteries and stuff like that.

"The cashier just said it was a surprise to everybody. The lease expires in January, so they'll be there 'till sometime before that. It's pretty empty in there right now — a lot of empty shelves."

Allen Jellife of Monroe lives about a mile-and-a-half away from the hardware store and said he will miss the convenience.

"It's close and it beats the traffic going to Home Depot," he said. "I saw the sale and just thought it was a holiday thing. I didn't know it was closing."

Inside, a cashier confirmed that the store is closing, but referred any comments to a manager who was not in at the time.