Family owned for nearly 100 years, Karp’s hardware store sold
STAMFORD — Karp’s Ace Hardware, a family owned and operated business for more than 95 years, announced Wednesday that it had been purchased by Rocky’s Ace Hardware, one of the country’s largest familyowned Ace Hardware dealers.
Based in an approximately 12,000-square-foot storefront at 485 Hope St., in the Glenbrook Shopping Center, Karp’s represents one of the bestknown hardware stores in southwestern Connecticut. It had been owned and run by brothers David and Marc Fogel since 1991, following the retirement of their father, Hy. The Fogels’ grandfather, Harry Karp, founded the business in 1926.
“Rocky’s approached us, and then we did our research and found out the way they run their business is very similar to the way we run ours,” David Fogel said in an interview Wednesday. “We got to talking and decided that the time was right . ... It just seemed a really good fit.”
Executives at Rocky’s Ace Hardware also cited the similarities between Karp’s and their business. The acquisition of Karp’s — a transaction whose price was not disclosed — marks the second Rocky’s location in Connecticut, complementing an establishment in Vernon.
Most of the 38 Rocky’s stores are in Massachusetts. In addition to the two in Connecticut, it also operates four in Florida, three in New Hampshire, one in Rhode Island, one in New Jersey, one in Pennsylvania and one in Maine.
“Both Karp’s and Rocky’s have very similar roots,” Rocky’s Ace Hardware President Rocco Falcone said in a statement. “We’ve both been family-owned-and-operated for nearly 100 years. Since my grandfather opened our first location in Springfield, Mass., in 1926, our Rocky’s team has understood the importance of hometown values and putting the customer first in all our business actions.”
The new owners plan to expand Ace Rewards features, product selection and online services, according to Falcone. Already, they have hung new signage, including a Rocky’s banner over the store’s front entrance and another outside that declares “your local Ace remains open. Always essential. Forever helpful.”
Rocky’s Ace Hardware is remaining at 485 Hope St., where Karp’s has been based since 2001.
“We plant roots in each of our neighborhood locations and intend to maintain the community focus established by the Karps,” Falcone said. “We’re excited to be a part of the Stamford community and have already received a warm welcome.”
David Fogel confirmed the Stamford Rocky’s Ace Hardware will look familiar to customers. He said all 16 Karp’s employees are staying on, while he and his brother will be involved with the business for a few more months to ensure a smooth transition.
“The culture of putting the customer first is certainly not going to change,” David Fogel said. “We feel Rocky’s will continue that way of doing business.”
David Fogel said it was “to be determined” what he and his brother would do professionally after completing the transition. David Fogel, 68, lives in Weston, while Marc Fogel, 65, lives in Norwalk.
What is certain is the pride the brothers feel in having run a business that has lasted nearly 100 years. In recent years, Karp’s had operated as one of a shrinking number of neighborhood hardware stores in the area. Another well-known hardware store, Keough’s Paint & Hardware, closed at 907 High Ridge Road in December 2019 after about 30 years in business. Keough’s still has a store in Ridgefield.
“It’s part of our DNA, it’s part of what we were brought up with,” David Fogel said. “It’s bittersweet. We’ve been doing it a long time. We really value the customers we’ve seen through the years, as well as our associates. We’d like to think we’ve had a positive impact on the city of Stamford.”