For 75 years the Grove family has been a retail fixture in the Village of Oxford.
It all started with the Groves? 5 & 10 store ? which served the town from 1930 to 1980 ? and continues today with the Groves? Ace Hardware at 190 S. Washington St. in the Oxford Marketplace.
Nathan Grove, co-owner and operator of the Oxford Ace and several others, wants people to know that his hardware store is an independently-owned and family-operated business, not some corporate outpost.
That’s why the Grove name is being incorporated into the Ace Hardware logo this year.
‘We want people to know this is a locally owned and operated hardware store,? Grove said. ‘We’re a small town family business and we’re very proud of that fact. We’ve faithfully served this community for 75 years, not many families can make that claim.?
But just because the Groves? are celebrating their 75th anniversary, don’t think the family is now going to start resting on its laurels.
The Oxford Ace Hardware is in for some other big changes this year, according to Grove.
A whole new outdoor power equipment center is being created to welcome the addition of the Echo line of chain-saws, weed whips and blowers, and the arrival of Toro zero-turn commercial riding lawn mowers.
Echo offers top of the line, high quality outdoor power equipment for everyone from the average home owner to the commercial user. Oxford Ace will function as a service dealer for the Echo line, able to handle everything from repairs to part replacement to blade sharpening.
An Open House to introduce the Echo line to the public will be held at the Oxford Ace sometime toward the end of April, Grove said.
Oxford Ace is also welcoming a line of Toro zero-turn commercial riding lawn mowers. Grove said these mowers are superior to the traditional lawn tractor in that they’re ‘more durable? and they mow ‘a lot faster.?
‘They last a lifetime for residential use because for the average homeowner it gets used once, maybe twice a week whereas a commercial user will run it 5 or 6 days a week, 8 to 10 hours a day,? Grove said. ‘The average lawn tractor needs to be replaced every 5 to 10 years.?
‘Because of its maneuverability and speed, the zero-turn model can mow in a third of the time it takes a lawn tractor,? Grove noted.
Along with the zero-turn, Oxford Ace will also carry a more extensive line of Toro push mowers.
But spring and summer aren’t all lawn cutting and weed whipping. It’s also barbecue time!
That’s why Oxford Ace carries the full 2005 line of revamped Weber grills. Besides adding 8 or 9 models to the line, Weber also redesigned the grills making them a few inches higher for easier access and giving them an enclosed cart below for safe storage.
Weber has also introduced a triangular-shaped outdoor fireplace ? perfect for patios or decks ? that runs off the standard 20-pound propane tank and features a gas log.
Grove wishes to remind everyone that spring/summer is a perfect time to have a brand new Kohler generator installed to give your home or business an automatic backup power source.
Last year, Oxford Ace was selected as the ‘Kohler Built-in Home Generator Installer? for TV’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition in Oak Park.
But Oxford isn’t the only place where big things are happening for the Grove family business.
In addition to the Ace hardwares they own and operate in Oxford, Orion, Ortonville, Pontiac and South Lyon, the Groves opened a 9,000-square-foot True Value Hardware in downtown Rochester on March 8. ‘We’re very excited,? Grove said. ‘We’ve wanted to be in Rochester for quite some time. There’s a big need in that market for an independent hardware store like ours.?
Big, new things are happening with the Groves and their hardware stores, but the family’s tireless commitment to customer service, quality merchandise and ‘a job done right? remains the same.
And it will continue to be that way for the next 75 years. Oxford Ace is open seven days a week. For more information call (248) 628-9335.