Another Antioch store on its way out?

Antioch may be losing its second hardware store in three months.

A going-out-of-business banner has been hanging outside of Ace Hardware for several weeks, and customers have been taking advantage of reduced prices. However, owner Ted Costoff would not confirm the store is actually closing.

While Costoff would say only that he is selling off the merchandise, employees said Wednesday the store is closing and everything must be out of the building by May 31.

"The only thing we know is signs are out and word on the street is they are going out of business," said Antioch Village Administrator Jill Velan. "No plans have been submitted for that property, and there is no pending development."

Trustee Larry Hanson said Ace, located at the southeast corner of routes 173 and 59, is closing because of the value of the land, not because it isn't a viable business.

"Ted is a great businessman, and I don't think for one second it is closing for any other reason than he saw an opportunity he couldn't pass up," Hanson said.

Antioch's other independently owned hardware store, True Value, shut its doors in January.

Longtime owner Stan Livermore blamed the big-box stores, saying when Wal-Mart opened in fall 2004 he took a 22 percent hit. The next spring, when Home Depot opened in Round Lake, business fell another 10 percent, and then when Menards opened in 2007, the store lost another 10 percent in revenue.

Antioch customers are sorry to see Ace following in the footsteps of True Value.

"I don't care for the big-boxes," said Bernie DeVries of Antioch. "I'm sure I'll end up going to Menards, but I'm not going to like it."

Hanson isn't ruling out the possibility of another hardware store coming to downtown Antioch.

"I believe one can survive with Menards," Hanson said. "A true hardware store is service-driven. You can go there and get lawn mowers fixed, blades sharpened, keys cut. All things we remember and still want that aren't at the big-boxes."