San Dimas Ace Hardware Stays Open as Owner Works to Restock

San Dimas Ace Hardware remains open after a city official announced last month it would close Sept. 19, a date the owner says was never finalized.

James Reimer said the store, at 201 W. Bonita Ave., may have a chance to remain open, but he needs “more inventory.”

“If it keeps going the way it is, then I don’t know,” he said. “It’s going to be harder, much harder.”

Reimer launched a GoFundMe campaign to help restock the store's shelves. As of Sept. 24, it had raised $3,470 from 39 donations, about a quarter of its $12,000 goal.

“I had to create one,” Reimer said of the fundraiser. “I didn’t want to, but I did.”

During the Aug. 25 San Dimas City Council meeting, City Manager Brad McKinney said he had received a call from the San Dimas Chamber of Commerce notifying him that the downtown Ace Hardware would close Sept. 19.

"I think they notified employees today," McKinney said. He added that the store planned to advertise a clearance sale.

"That's all the information I have at this point," he said.

When contacted Sept. 10, Silvia Melendez, the chamber's CEO, referred La Verne Daily News to Reimer for more information.

The store had not publicly confirmed a closing date.

Tanner, the store manager, who asked to be identified only by his first name, said management had been considering closing but was still working to resolve issues behind the scenes. He also said employees had been notified about the possible closure.

On Aug. 30, Julio Mancia, from Walnut, and his sons visited the store to buy a roll of mesh for a fence. Mancia said he was unaware of the City’s announcement or that the store had been considering closing.

“I just like small hardware stores,” Mancia said, adding that his family tries to support small businesses.

Reimer told La Verne Daily News on Aug. 31 that he had been considering closing the store but had not set a date. He cited rising costs and low inventory.

“It’s not official yet, so I don’t know why it’s being reported,” Reimer said. “Someone’s jumping the gun.”

During public comment at the Sept. 8 City Council meeting, Reimer said the store would close at its usual time of 6 p.m. Sept. 19 and reopen at 9 a.m. Sept. 20.

The store opened as scheduled Sept. 20 and was still operating as of Sept. 25.

Reimer said a brief conversation with him before the public announcement could have prevented the confusion. He questioned why no one had visited the store, called, texted or emailed him before the announcement.

“Simple professional courtesy should have been applied before any public announcement was made,” Reimer told the council. “That wasn’t done.”

Reimer said no one from the City contacted him after his Sept. 8 comments and that the City had not publicly corrected its statement about the expected closure.

“They have not made it any easier,” he said.

Calls to McKinney and the City’s development services director after the Sept. 8 council meeting were not returned before publication.