Visalia's Ace Hardware distribution center, Photo via claycorp.com

Under construction for 16 months, the new 1.1 million square-foot Ace Hardware logistics center in the Visalia Industrial Park will open in the next few days. Mayor Brian Poochigian will cut the ribbon at a grand opening ceremony March 2.

“We are really excited to have Ace invest in our community, providing good jobs to the residents of Visalia,” said Poochigian, who was recently named mayor.

Ace Hardware Corp., the world’s largest hardware cooperative, announced plans in August 2021 to open a new retail support center in Visalia. The plant is bringing more than 400 jobs to the region, according to Ace Hardware.

The new facility joins the company’s Rocklin (Sacramento area) and Prescott Valley, Arizona, distribution centers, centrally located in California.

Georgia developer Seefried Properties brought Ace to Visalia to lease the property. Seefried is developing two more speculative projects in Visalia including a 553,500 square-foot facility next door to Ace. There is also a contract to develop a 280-acre industrial park also in northwest Visalia.

The Ace building is located at 2045 N. Plaza Dr. on 81 acres just two miles north of the Highway 99-198 interchange. An approximately 20,000-square-foot office is part of the development, as well as a 348,528-square-foot potential future expansion. The contractor on the project is Missouri-based Clayco.

Ace officials are proud of their new California facility.

“Ace Hardware continuously evaluates distribution capabilities to ensure we meet our growing business demands and offer the best support and service to Ace retailers and our wholesale customers,” said Jeff Gooding, corporate vice president of marketing, Ace Hardware. “Opening this new facility is essential for Ace to keep up with our historic growth and better serve our network of retailers, and ultimately, our Ace customers.”

Ace has recently built or is in the process of building several new facilities around the country as it continues to grow. Ace’s network of distribution facilities around the world serve more than 5,500 retail locations. The new Visalia distribution center will serve more than 300 Ace-affiliated stores in multiple states.