Hanover Welcomes Costello’s Ace Hardware: The ceremonial ribbon-cutting was performed with a chainsaw

HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Township officials, county leaders and business representatives gathered Friday to mark the grand opening of Costello’s Ace Hardware at Cedar Knolls Plaza, 235 Ridgedale Avenue.

The celebration drew representatives from Hanover Township, Morris County, the Morris County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation, and members of the township’s Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC). In keeping with the hardware theme, the ceremonial ribbon-cutting was performed with a chainsaw.

Morris County Commissioner Christine Myers said the new store represents more than just another retailer, calling it an important part of continued investment in Cedar Knolls and the surrounding community. Myers noted that neighborhood businesses do more than provide goods and services — they create places where communities form. “We don’t want warehouses replacing businesses where neighbors meet,” she said. “That’s where you meet your neighbors, share ideas and build community.” She added that a sense of community encourages residents to invest locally. “It’s critical in making people want to invest in their home and in their town,” Myers said. “If people feel like they’re forever an outsider, that’s how they’ll treat the county and their community.”

Michelle Feldman, director of community and economic development for the Morris County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation, also spoke at the event, welcoming the Costello family to Morris County.

Costello’s Ace Hardware was founded by Vincent Costello in Deer Park, N.Y. in 1973. The family-owned business has since grown from a single 2,000-square-foot store into a chain of more than 60 locations along the East Coast.

The Hanover location, at 23,000 square feet, is the largest of the company’s New Jersey stores and one of the most advanced in its portfolio. The store features a new flagship format with an extensive hardware and home improvement selection, a dedicated barbecue department, power equipment offerings, and a curated gifts and home accents section called “The Knolls Thoughtful Finds.” The store is also designed to serve contractors and commercial customers with dedicated account management and jobsite delivery services.

Multi-store director Lauren Kramer said interest in do-it-yourself home improvement projects that surged during the COVID-19 pandemic has continued as homeowners invest in their living spaces. “A lot more people DIY,” Kramer said. “COVID accelerated that. People realized, ‘I can repaint my room,’ and then they started taking on more projects. It’s become part of their lifestyle.”

Store Manager Jen Ornella said watching the Cedar Knolls location come together from an empty shell into a finished store has been especially rewarding.