CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Rebuilding is officially underway at Hagan Ace Hardware in Orange Park more than a year after a devastating fire ravaged the longtime community staple.
Construction crews moved in this week, bringing equipment to the Blanding Boulevard property as the rebuild gets off the ground.
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While the inside of the store still bears the scars of last May’s fire, a spokesperson with the location says just getting to this point has been an uphill battle.
Delays tied to permitting, zoning changes and other hurdles slowed the process for months, but those issues have now been cleared and work is moving forward.
For more than 40 years, Hagan Ace Hardware has been more than just a place to pick up tools and supplies; it’s been a cornerstone of the Orange Park community.
Neighboring business owners say they can’t wait to see it return.
“It hit us personally when it caught fire because we know the family. And like I said, we support each other here in Clay. So we’re really excited to see it come back,” said Rebecca Barfield, owner of Be Bella Boutique.
“It was like oh, you got to be kidding me, because we went to Ace Hardware all the time, and we could always depend on it for hurricane season to get the things that we need,” Stevi Smith, owner of Rockin’ It Local said.
“We are very excited to hear that they are going to be opening up and be back in business because Clay County has missed them,” Smith continued.
There is still no official reopening date, but Ace Hardware hopes to welcome customers back sometime next year.
The 33 employees who worked at the Blanding Boulevard location were relocated to other stores following the fire, and many of them are expected to return when the doors reopen.
For continued updates on the project, click here.