Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

WORLAND — It’s official. Kennedy Ace Hardware will be moving east on Worland main street from 801 Big Horn Avenue to 100 South 20th Street. Actual moving day has not been set.

Lee and Gerry Kennedy, owners of the Worland Ace Hardware store, purchased the building that formerly housed Shopko, with final closing on July 19.

Lee Kennedy said the process of purchasing the property was long and involved and they had almost given up when things moved quickly the week of July 15 and they were able to finalize details and sign paperwork.

Kennedy said moving day will likely be in the spring 2020. Kennedy said ideally they would like to sell the building on Big Horn, as well as the rental and repair shop around the corner on Robertson.

He said they are giving the county the time it needs to do due diligence in investigating the building as a potential new location for the Washakie County Library.

While they work on selling the two properties, Kennedy said that Ace officials are working on the floor plan for the new building. He said the flooring inside will need to be replaced and the façade on the outside will be changed to “look like Ace wants it to look.”

The new Kennedy Ace will have larger product lines of the products they currently carry, as well as some other Ace products that they do not have the room to carry at the current store.

Lee Kennedy said they will have a new line of grills, more convenience lumber with Gerry Kennedy adding that they will add more housewares, more plumbing, larger outdoor furniture and larger lawn and garden items.

They will have an additional 11,000 square feet available at the new location, Kennedy said.

The Kennedys have operated the Worland Ace store since 1983.