Article Text

Ace Hardware is preparing to open in Vienna’s Cedar Park Shopping Center this fall, filling the space formerly occupied by CVS Pharmacy at 264 Cedar Lane SE.

Signs for the new store have begun appearing outside the property. Managing partner Faizal Thobani said a soft opening is scheduled to begin Sept. 2, followed by a grand opening from Oct. 10-12.

The grand-opening celebration will give customers opportunities to try products and speak with representatives from brands including Weber, Milwaukee Tools, Yeti and Benjamin Moore.

Thobani, a McLean resident, will operate the store with his wife, Aekta. He said Vienna’s strong economy, highly skilled workforce and close-knit atmosphere made the community an appealing location.

“We were attracted to Vienna primarily due to its positive energy and the strong sense of family we found while doing our research,” Thobani said. The couple, who have three children, also valued the town’s family-oriented character.

The Thobanis said shoppers can expect knowledgeable employees ready to assist with their projects, along with a product selection tailored to the community.

Founded in 1924, Ace Hardware is a retailer-owned cooperative that allows individual store operators to purchase merchandise collectively at wholesale prices. The Vienna shop will be the company’s second location in the Fairfax area, joining a Fairfax City store that has operated for more than a decade.

This will be the Thobanis’ first Ace Hardware store, though the couple hopes to open more locations across Northern Virginia.

Ace will be Cedar Park’s only hardware store. Other shopping-center tenants include Sushi Koji, Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream and The Red Bird.