The Ace is now in the old roost of Mcdonald's.

In this article, I will:

1. Discuss Ace Hardware company history and reputation

2. Reveal why McDonalds originally left the suburbs

3. Share the benefits of Ace Hardware’s move

Ace Hardware’s move to the former McDonald's Campus in Oakbrook is such an exciting development in the suburb because this is the area's biggest suburban office lease since 2015. 

In a time when corporate real estate occupancy suffers amid the pandemic, this is a beacon of hope in progress in Illinois.

What is Ace Hardware?

Entrepreneurs Richard Hesse, E. Gunnard Lindquist, Frank Burke, and Oscar Fisher merged their Chicago, Illinois, hardware stores to form "Ace Stores" in 1924 to boost sales and profits. The company was given that name in honor of the World War I ace fighter pilots who defied all odds. Ace Stores was incorporated in 1928, and the company opened its first warehouse a year later. In 1931, the name was changed to Ace Hardware Corporation.

Ace Hardware Corporation is both the largest non-grocery American retail cooperative and the largest hardware retail cooperative in the world. Since 1926, the business has been assisting its clients, and they continue to win awards for their outstanding service. 

Many businesses use mystery shoppers in their shops, but Ace Hardware stands out because, despite being separately owned, the stores consent to being checked by the corporate cooperative that provides their goods.

Ace Hardware sells construction tools, paint, housewares, fasteners, hinges, locks, keys, plumbing, cleaning, electrical supplies, power tools, hinges, locks, and keys. 

In 2021, the company earned the “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores” Award from J.D. Power, its fourteenth out of the last fifteen years.

This multinational brand is successful throughout Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East regions. 

And its success mainly comes from its engaging work culture. Ace is a mainstay on the Chicago Tribune’s list of “Top Workplaces,” having been ranked #7 in 2021 and cracking the top 10 for the past five years.

Now that you know a bit about Ace Hardware, let’s go back in time as I answer the question: Why did Mcdonald's leave its Oakbrook campus?

Why did McDonald's leave its Oak Brook Campus?

McDonald's moved its corporate offices from Oak Brook (where it’s been since 1971) to Fulton Market in 2018. To recruit younger talent, the burger producers moved into the city alongside other businesses like Motorola and Kraft Heinz. 

The former McDonald’s campus was designed in a contemporary prairie style in 1988 and includes multiple outdoor terraces, patios and gathering spaces, with access to 2.5 miles of walking paths and two ponds. After McDonald’s left the complex, billionaire John Paul DeJoria bought the site for $40 million in 2019. And he renamed it the Oak Brook Reserve.

Now Ace Hardware is moving its corporate headquarters to McDonald’s former home.

Why is Ace Hardware moving its headquarters to the former McDonald's campus? 

In a Chicago Sun-Times report, Ace Chief Financial Officer William Guzik said that the company had signed a 16-year lease for the campus. Ace Hardware would relocate its corporate offices to the former McDonald's facility in Oak Brook, saying that the 80-acre location would provide the business with more amenities and space to expand. 

Ace President and CEO John Venhuizen said, "We feel blessed to have found a space that not only offers us a runway for more growth but also provides a spectacular environment to reinforce our culture and inspire our people. Our motivation has never been to be the biggest but to be the best. This beautiful new property further enables the great Ace team to do just that."

Ace Hardware's new headquarters consists of open workstations, 150 conference rooms, 12 cafes/pantries, a fitness center, conference center, multi-purpose room, large cafeteria, dining center,

outdoor terraces, patios, walking trails, two ponds, and an inside, heated parking garage. More than 1,100 employees work there since the facility opened in October 2023.  

Conclusion

And as Ace Hardware moves into a bigger site that redevelops a former corporate campus, it has huge potential to boost the economy in Chicago’s suburbs. 38 Illinois businesses and organizations were recognized for their contributions to the economy, the environment, and future generations, including two Ace Hardware paint divisions. 

Oak Brook is home to the headquarters of other major corporations such as Blistex, TreeHouse Foods and Lions Club International. Local businesses are served by the Greater Oak Brook Economic Development Partnership, along with the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce.

Ace Hardware’s move will nurture the job market, the rental market and overall economy in the region.

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