Ace and TruServ look for locations to roll out new store concepts.(Ace Hardware)(Brief Article)

Do-It-Yourself Retailing, February, 1999

Ace Hardware, which surpassed annual sales of $3 billion for the first time last year, has widened its market search for the location of its newest prototype-Store 21. Originally, the company planned to test the concept in a company-owned store in the Chicago area, where it has about 200 members. Locating a convenient test site that would not compete with its dealers has proven difficult, and the co-op is considering locations outside of Illinois.

TruServ, which is also looking to roll out a new store design, said it plans to begin retrofitting several existing Chicago members with its "True Evolution" concept by mid-year.