After closing its doors in August, Woodside ACE Hardware is preparing for a fresh start under new ownership.
John Lewis Wheatley III, whose family has operated hardware stores in the Boston area for generations, purchased the property at 65 Main Street in Winthrop for approximately $2 million and hopes to welcome customers back in January 2027, according to the Winthrop Pilot.
Wheatley announced the news in a social media post introducing his family to their new Winthrop neighbors. Whether customers need a new paint color for the kitchen, ice melt and shovels for winter weather, or a snowblower before the next New England storm, Wheatley said the team looks forward to serving the community for years to come.
“We are really excited to open Woodside and are aiming for a January grand opening,” he wrote. “You’ll see familiar faces here to help you and a brand-new store layout. Above all, we are here to be helpful.”
Hardware is a family business for the Wheatleys. Their flagship store, R.W. Shattuck ACE Hardware in Arlington, has operated since 1857, and Wheatley’s grandfather began working there in 1920. Today, the business is in its fourth generation, with Wheatley’s son, Christian, joining the family operation six years ago.
Over the past decade, the family has also acquired Shattuck Heights Hardware in Arlington, Shattuck ACE Hardware in Lexington, and Bradford’s ACE Hardware in Hyannis. The acquisitions came as the previous owners prepared to retire, rather than as part of a broader expansion plan. Although Wheatley had never visited Winthrop before being approached about the purchase, he said he sees familiar qualities in the community, including its many century-old homes.
Wheatley told What Now Boston that the store will be completely revamped, with new fixtures, merchandise, and signage. The team also hopes to rehire former employees, many of whom have expressed interest in returning.
Woodside’s closure in August followed the retirement of longtime owner Paul Levy, who had been seeking a new owner for the business. Levy had retired from running the store in 2021, and the location subsequently faced further challenges when a former employee who took over its operations experienced serious health issues.
Now, with Wheatley and his family preparing to take over, they hope to give the store a fresh start and bring a familiar neighborhood resource back to Winthrop this winter.
