Our History
In 1918, Joe Boling and C. G. Bettis started a small country store, Boling & Bettis General Store, in Cumming, GA, less than a half mile north of the current store we call ‘Ace Hardware Midway.’ The business operated in a small, one-bedroom house before moving to an 1,800 square foot building in 1951, where they added gas pumps and a mill to make flour and cornmeal. In 1960, an additional 4,000 square feet was added to the store to make it the first "buggy pushing" supermarket in Forsyth County. It was a thriving country store for several years where residents could purchase groceries, hardware, building supplies, farm supplies, clothing, toys, and gas.
In 1979, the building supply portion of the business was sold off and became ‘Midway Building Supply.’ It was then that Ace Hardware Midway was born, ushering in the Ace Hardware era. Ace Hardware Midway moved on October 5th, 1984, to a new building at 4947 Hwy 9. A small engine shop was added in 1986, and other additions were made in succeeding years. In 1996, the Ace chain purchased Sibley-Roper Hardware at 2000 Canton Hwy. Then, in 1999, the company built a 24,000-square-foot building at 4715 Hammond Industrial Drive to open a third store.
Under new ownership, Ace Hardware Woodmont was added to the portfolio in 2014. In 2016, the company expanded into the South Carolina market by purchasing Ace Hardware Three Fountains in West Columbia, SC. In 2018, the company expanded into Tennessee by purchasing three stores near Nashville: Ace Hardware Donelson, Ace Hardware Springfield, and Ace Hardware White House.
In 2019, the eight-store portfolio was sold to JPB Partners, and The Helpful Hardware Company, LLC was born. JPB Partners works with the leadership of The Helpful Hardware Co., providing insight, growth funding, and Board of Directors oversight. With their support, The Helpful Hardware Co. continues to seek opportunities for growth and expansion in the Southeast.
That partnership has proven to be successful. The Helpful Hardware Co. has continued to grow since 2019:
- Ace Hardware Duncan in Goose Creek, SC - 2020
- Indian Trail Hardware was purchased and converted to Ace Hardware in Indian Trail, NC - 2021.
- Brookstone Ace Hardware – 2021
- Southern Home & Garden - 2021.
- Ace Hardware Cordova - 2022
- Westbury's Ace Hardware - 2022
- Ace Hardware North Hall - 2023
- Ace Hardware Bethlehem - 2023
- Ace Hardware Ladson - 2023
- Ace Hardware Mint Hill - 2024
The Helpful Hardware Co. now totals 19 locations and continues to look for expansion opportunities throughout the eastern US.
At The Helpful Hardware Co., we are incredibly proud to be part of a tradition that dates back nearly 100 years. Today, we are stronger than ever. Our roots in the community are deep, and our commitment to our customers is our number one focus.