You're standing in the middle of a hardware aisle. You need a specific galvanized bolt. Maybe a certain shade of eggshell paint. You look at the sign out front. It says Ace. Or maybe it says True Value. Honestly, to most of us just trying to fix a leaky sink on a Saturday morning, they're the same thing. But then you see a store that looks like a hybrid, or you hear someone ask is Ace True Value the same company, and suddenly the business of hammers and nails gets surprisingly complicated.
They aren't the same. Not even close.
It’s a common mix-up. Both brands dominate the "not-Home-Depot" space. They both lean heavily into that nostalgic, small-town vibe where the employees actually know where the washers are located. But behind the scenes, these two giants have been locked in a decades-long battle for the soul of the American neighborhood.
The Cooperative Model vs. The Wholesaler Reality
To understand the relationship—or lack thereof—between these two, you have to look at how they're built. Ace Hardware is a retailer-owned cooperative. When you walk into an Ace, the person owning that specific store likely lives in your zip code. They aren't a franchisee in the traditional sense; they are a member-owner. They buy shares in the corporation.
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True Value used to be exactly like that. For generations, it was the primary rival to Ace in the co-op space.
Then 2018 happened.
That was the year the True Value cooperative basically blew up. After years of struggling to keep pace with Ace’s aggressive marketing and the sheer scale of big-box competitors like Lowe's, the members voted to sell a majority stake to ACORE, an investment firm. It stopped being a "co-op" and became a private company. This shifted the entire dynamic of the industry.
When people ask is Ace True Value, they are often sensing the consolidation that’s happened in the market. While they remain separate entities, the "independent" hardware world is shrinking.
Why the confusion persists
Walk into any local hardware shop. Look at the shelves. You might see a Master Mechanic tool (True Value) sitting near a Craftsman wrench (Ace). You might see a store that was a True Value for thirty years suddenly hang an Ace sign because the owner decided the red-and-white branding offered better distribution deals.
Retailers switch sides. It happens all the time.
A store owner in rural Ohio might get fed up with the shipping rates from one warehouse and jump to the other. Because the stores are independently operated, the "brand" is often just a coat of paint on the building and a specific supply chain. This leads to a massive amount of brand bleed in the consumer's mind.
The 2024 True Value Bankruptcy: A Seismic Shift
If you’ve been following the news lately, the question of is Ace True Value becoming one thing has actually moved closer to reality, but not in the way people expected.
In late 2024, True Value Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
It wasn't because people stopped buying lightbulbs. It was a massive internal failure of logistics, debt, and a changing retail landscape. But here’s the kicker: Do it Best, another massive hardware player, stepped in to buy nearly all of True Value's assets.
Wait. Where does Ace fit in?
Ace didn't buy them. But they did something more aggressive. As True Value faltered, Ace started a massive "conversion" campaign. They essentially started poaching True Value store owners, offering them incentives to flip their branding. So, while the corporate entities are totally different, your local True Value might literally become an Ace next week.
Comparison of the "Big Three" Independents
- Ace Hardware: The undisputed king of the hill right now. Over 5,000 stores. Their "Helpful Hardware Folks" campaign is one of the most successful retail branding hits in history.
- True Value: Currently in a state of massive transition under the Do it Best umbrella. They are moving away from the "co-op" history into a more streamlined wholesale model.
- Do it Best: The quiet giant. They don't care as much about the name on the sign; they care about being the warehouse that stocks the shelves.
Does it matter to you, the shopper?
Probably not. But also, maybe.
If you have a True Value rewards card, don't expect it to work at Ace. They are separate tech stacks, separate databases, and separate corporate offices (Ace is in Oak Brook, Illinois; True Value has long been Chicago-based).
The real difference shows up in the "Store Brands."
If you swear by Celebration paint or Master Plumber parts, you’re a True Value person. If you want Clark+Kensington or the exclusive right to buy Stihl or Milwaukee tools at a local shop, you’re headed to Ace. Ace has been much better at securing "destination brands." They realized that people will drive past a Home Depot to get a specific Traeger grill or a Yeti cooler that only the local Ace carries. True Value struggled to match that "boutique" hardware feel.
The Logistics of "Local"
It’s easy to think of these places as small businesses. And they are! But the "True Value" or "Ace" part is a massive logistics machine.
Think about a single screw.
A local hardware store needs to stock roughly 20,000 to 60,000 unique items (SKUs). No small business owner can manage those contracts individually. They need a "Wholesaler." When you ask is Ace True Value, you're really asking if they use the same warehouse.
They don't.
Ace has a legendary supply chain. They have regional distribution centers that can get a part to a store in 24 hours. True Value’s recent struggles were largely tied to their inability to keep those warehouses running efficiently compared to Ace's juggernaut.
Misconceptions about the "Hardware Wars"
- "They are owned by the same parent company." False. Ace is owned by its retailers. True Value is (now) owned by Do it Best.
- "The prices are the same." Not necessarily. Since owners set their own prices, a True Value in a high-rent district might be 20% more expensive than an Ace three towns over.
- "Ace is more expensive than big boxes." This is the one that kills local shops. Often, on core items like mulch or power tools, Ace is price-matched with the giants. They just don't have the "loss leaders" (the super cheap stuff that gets you in the door) that Lowe's uses.
The Future: Will "True Value" disappear?
It's unlikely the name will vanish entirely. The brand has too much equity. People trust the red-and-white sign.
However, we are seeing a "Great Consolidation."
The hardware industry is getting squeezed. On one side, you have Amazon taking the small, easy-to-ship stuff. On the other, you have the "Orange and Blue" giants taking the lumber and contractor business. The "middle" is where Ace and True Value live.
Ace is winning because they leaned into "service." They doubled down on the idea that you’re going to walk in, be greeted by a guy named Gary who has worked there for 20 years, and he’s going to show you exactly how to fix your toilet. True Value, through its various ownership changes, lost that marketing focus for a while.
Actionable Insights for the Savvy Homeowner
If you’re trying to decide which store to frequent, or if you're just confused by the changing signs in your neighborhood, keep these points in mind:
- Check the Rewards Program: If your local store is switching from True Value to Ace (which many are), your old points are likely toast. Use them now.
- Look at the Power Tools: This is the easiest way to tell who is who. If you see a massive display of EGO or Milwaukee, you're almost certainly in an Ace. True Value tends to have a more eclectic mix or their proprietary brands.
- Support the Owner, Not the Sign: Remember that whether it’s an Ace or a True Value, the money stays in your community much more than it does at a big-box store. The owner is the one sponsoring the local Little League team.
- Inventory Inquiries: If your local True Value is going through the "Do it Best" transition, expect some out-of-stock items for a few months. Moving warehouses is a nightmare. If you need something urgent, call ahead.
- Propane and Services: Many Ace locations have specialized in services like key cutting, screen repair, and propane filling. True Value locations often vary more wildly in their service offerings because they had less "corporate" oversight on service standards.
The hardware landscape is shifting under our feet. While is Ace True Value has a simple "No" answer today, the reality is that the two are more connected than ever through the shared struggle of independent retail. One is a thriving cooperative; the other is a legacy brand fighting for a second life under new management. Either way, they both represent the last line of defense for the "neighborhood" store experience.
Next time you need a lightbulb, pay attention to the name on the door—it tells a much bigger story about the American economy than you’d think. Check your local listings to see if your nearby shop has recently changed affiliations, as many True Value owners have made the jump to Ace in the last 18 months to take advantage of their superior distribution network. If you have a choice, visit both and see which one actually has the "Helpful Hardware" person available; branding is one thing, but a knowledgeable clerk is the real value.