Although it is sad news that yet another business has closed in downtown Farmington, this particular one was doomed from the start. As mentioned in this article, this was a store that couldn't decide what it wanted to be - a hardware store or a housewares store, and trying to be both, ended up not being a good one of either. Poorly stocked with significantly overpriced merchandise and burdened with astronomical rental fees, they just couldn't compete with the large number of big-box discount stores within a 5 or 10 minute drive. I visited the store a number of times, and more often than not, could not find what I was looking for. When I did, I couldn't bring myself to pay 20, 30 or 40% more than the same product down the street a mile or two. I've heard the same from others as well. Not a good recipe for a successful business.

My family will miss the folks from Ace. Always helpful, always friendly. We were proud to support this independently owned business and dropped in whenever we needed a quick fix or a supply for a home project. We're sad to see them go and wish the best in the future for them.

I hated the angled parking at that shopping center. I almost always had a close call backing out
of parking spots. Unfortunately, my experience with Ace is that the items were overpriced and not unique with respect to the competition. Jean's can survive because it is very close to an old-fashioned hardware store. Ace tried to compete against the big-box stores and lost.

I'm sorry that Ace is gone. Friendly staff and I found the prices competitive (especially when factoring in the time and fuel to head to Home Depot). We really liked stopping in for popcorn!

Best of luck to the staff and owners.

I had no clue that the ACE store was doing poorly. I always appreciated that it was close by and I could run in and get something quickly. I didn't think the prices were that high, especially for the convience of the location. I will miss it.

I am very sad to learn that Ace has closed. I am always willing to pay a bit more when good service is involved. Everyone at Ace was friendly and helpful. It is never a good day when Farmington loses another business. I sincerely hope that the owners and employees know that they were appreciated and that I wish them the best for 2011. They will be missed.

Any store who chooses to rent space in that area will have obstacles before they open the doors to their establishment due to the parking space design and lack of parking spots available to the area. Many of the elderly residents will not do business in the downtown area for that specific reason.

This past week, I heard that T.J. Maxx in the same center just signed a new lease and is one of the chain's most successful stores. Starbucks does very well, as does Dagwood's. It's interesting to me that some stores have stood the test of time, even through the pavilion construction and the streetscape, while others - Ace, Office Depot, Tuesday Morning, Quiznos - haven't been able to make it. I wonder what the formula for success is?

I agree with Tom. What's wrong with walking a FEW FEET to the store you want to go to? People are just plain lazy. I've seen people sit and wait for 10 minutes for a spot to open up instead of going down to the next few rows to park and be done with it. Maybe some have a legitimate health reason, but for most, that is not the case. There is plenty of parking behind TJ Maxx...always! As far as the downtown businesses, until there is a new owner of the building, I think we will see this happening. Both Tuesday Morning and JoAnn Fabric were successful and profitable. JoAnn Fabric, in fact wanted to expand and rent out the store next door and make some renovations to double their size. Kimco objected and instead raised their rent. ( This info came to me from corporate headquarters). A wealthy land developer in New York, does not care what is going on in little Farmington Michigan...THAT is most of the problem right there.

Questions:

1) Farmington, how is that Streetscape working for you?
2) How can someone support a local retailer who opines to be supported by local patrons (and Streetscape tax) who also deals mostly in cheap, non-USA made merchandise?
3) Does Joni Hubred-Golden wonder and does the DDA speculate, why the Ace Hardware on West Stadium in Ann Arbor is successful selling hardware and housewares?
4) Who else besides me has had their vehicle rammed in the parking lot and twisted an ankle while navigating afoot?
5) Does it just seem to me that New York's money talks and Annette Knowles talk walks?

I would never compare the success of a store in Ann Arbor with the failure of a store in Farmington. They are two very different communities in size, demographics and retail environment. The fact remains there are highly successful businesses in downtown Farmington that have survived construction of the pavilion and park and the streetscape. In the coming weeks, look for stories about them. Makes sense to me to look at what makes successful businesses grow, rather than trying to pick apart what made a business fail.

I live in Minnesota and I have never been to Farmington, but as a small business owner (simply searching for used paint tinting equipment on-line) I stumbled upon this article and felt very saddened to see another family owned business close its doors. I wish the best to the Ace Hardware Store owners and employees. I hope that as a community (and especially those individuals who have some "weight"and therefore, a good deal of responsibility) you can read all the comments posted here, learn from the experiences of ALL community members, and find a way to work together in a positive way to make your business climate one that is supportive rather than adversarial. 80% of businesses fail within the first three years in this country, the beauty is that starting a business in the United States is far easier than anywhere else in the world. We are fortunate that we live in a country with so much opportunity! I wish all of you the very best in this New Year, may each day bring us something to celebrate.

It's quality products, atmosphere, value, that make businesses successful.
The stores need to know the market. Dedo's ought to be highly successful. If it is not, it's due to ignorance of the population.

Bottom line is the worst parking I have ever seen. The post office is a nightmare to go to and I have to go all the time. Who ever designed that parklinig should be... oh well. I have a large van and it is litterally impossible to park in the farmers market lot because if the lot got filled would never be able to back out. Hate that area for parking. I avoid it at all possible costs.