Feb 26, 2008

30,000-square-foot Ranch Crowder Bros. store opensBy James A. Jones Jr.Bradenton.com

Lakewood Ranch — Known as quirky and helpful, Crowder Bros.-Ace Hardware has been a Bradenton tradition since 1955. Now the tradition has come east.

The company recently opened a 30,000-square-foot store at Lakewood Ranch, where it sells its diverse offerings, everything from home-made fudge, to Vera Bradley purses, stainless steel fasteners and plumbing fixtures.

Crowder Bros.-Ace Hardware represents two worlds under one roof. A traditional hardware store takes up the majority of the space. One room over, there is a substantial gift store with Pandora and Trollbead jewelry, greeting cards, seasonal gifts and more.

The business got its start in 1954 when brothers John and Chester Crowder opened their first store in Sarasota. They opened a second store a year later in Bradenton, said owner Ron Crowder. The first Manatee store opened on Manatee Avenue West in Westgate Plaza, which was also home to the second Beall’s Department Store. There is a still a Beall’s store in that plaza, as well as the Panda Buffet and other businesses.

But in 2000, Crowder Bros.-Ace Hardware moved its Bradenton store to a stand-alone location at 5409 Manatee Ave. W. In 2005, company officials, with some encouragement from Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, began thinking about opening a new store in East Manatee.

“They helped make it work,” Crowder said.

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