Windermere residents open their 14th Ace Hardware

Windermere’s Walter Toole smiled big as he watched Neil Asma, president and CEO of Toole’s Ace Hardware, use giant scissors to cut a ribbon outside the newest Toole’s Ace Hardware. 

Toole had been waiting about seven years for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Toole’s Ace Hardware of Windermere, signifying the opening of the 14th Ace Hardware location for Toole and his wife, Patricia.

Finally, the day had come Monday, June 9.

Walter and Patricia Toole were thrilled to be able to add their family-owned Ace Hardware to the community they’ve called home for the past 31 years.

“If we were going to do it, we were going to make it special and make sure it blends in with the community, and we were going to be involved in the community,” Toole said. “We care deeply about this community. My kids grew up here. … It means a lot (to open a store in Windermere). I’ve always wanted to represent this community.”

The store officially opened Saturday, May 24, at 517 Main St. in the heart of the town of Windermere. 

Asma said celebrating the store’s opening with members of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce, Windermere Town Council members and others was terrific. 

“With any new store, you have to wait and plan and look at drawings and designs on paper, and when you finally see it put together in fruition, it’s a pretty special moment,” he said. “There’s a lot of team members (who) go into creating a new store — from the merchandisers who put up all the products to the store management team to our leadership team who helps kind of make decisions about what the store is going to carry. It’s a lot of input, and we hope and we believe that it actually came out exactly the way we wanted. We’re proud of it.”

Walter and Patricia Toole became the owners of their first store in 1983 when they purchased the historic Bray Hardware in Winter Garden. 

Toole said his philosophy of doing business in a community means a store is more than just a store. He gives his managers the autonomy to do what is needed to care for the employees and, in turn, the employees treat the customers with care. 

Store Manager Clayson Richmond, a 10-year company veteran, said he’s excited about the new location. He started with Toole’s Ace Hardware as a clerk on the floor and has worked his way up to manager. Toole’s Ace Hardware of Windermere is the sixth store in which he’s worked for the Tooles. 

“We want this to be a fun, lighthearted place for both customers and staff,” Richmond said. “If someone breaks a sprinkler or needs to unclog their A/C line, we’re here to help.”

Photo by Liz Ramos

As a company, the leadership team and employees are involved in community service, supporting organizations such as the Scouts BSA and the Children’s Miracle Network.

Walter Toole, a former Eagle Scout and Golden Eagle Award recipient, ensures each store contributes to local causes — hosting fundraisers, backing Eagle Scout projects and raising money annually for Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Ace Hardware is known for being the go-to place for tools, grills and expert advice. For Stephen Lewis, president and CEO of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and a Windermere resident, the store has been the place for his children to pick up  ice cream from the cooler in the store while he purchases live bait to go fishing as a family.

“It’s going to be a great community asset,” Lewis said. “You can already see all the residents here in town are loving being able to come up here and get their live bait and all their other household needs.”

Lewis said shopping at the store also means supporting a local business. 

“You’re supporting somebody who cares about our community,” he said. “Walter Toole obviously lives here, works here and is a huge supporter of all the other businesses in the community. It’s nice to be able to come right down the street and support a homegrown business right in our backyard.”

Local customers already are impressed. 

First-time customer John Disterdick said the store was fantastic. He came into the store looking for guidance on his backyard, and an employee was able to give him advice.

Barbara Standridge praised the store’s convenience and service, especially when she needed a new burner for her grill.