Kim Drautz, who is the Operations Manager-Ace Hardware is part of the Bernau Capital Management company. She contacted the Daily Freeman Journal Wednesday with the news that Ace was coming to Webster City. The Bernau Capital Management company will be the new owners of the building located at 541 Second St.

Bernau Capital Management, owned by Tom Bernau, is a multi-franchise operation who has several different franchises.

Bernau, grew up in a small town in southeast Iowa, and loves working with smaller communities. Drautz wants to open hardware stores. Together they will make it happen.

“About a year and a half ago, I started investigating what it would take. Ace is very selective about their operators. It took a while to tell the story, about the need,” Drautz said.

Bernau and Drautz have been to Webster City several times and met with Ariel Bertran, the city economic development director, Cindy Im, the county economic development director and City Manager, John Harrenstein.

“Webster City is our very first Ace Hardware location,” said Drautz. “It was perfect timing. We just bought the building from (the former owners) and closed on the building on Tuesday.”

Bernau Capital has 1600 employees, and maintains their own Human Resource department and handles their own marketing. Drautz will be responsible for opening the Ace Hardware store in Webster City. But each store will have their own General Manager and staff.

“Securing Ace Hardware to locate in Webster City is a positive move for downtown and I’m confident the company will provide a lot of different services,” John Harrenstein, city manager for Webster City said. “We continually hear about retail options and Ace will meet many of those desires.”

“It’s been such a warm welcome talking with people and everyone is so kind,” said Drautz. “This is going to be our baby, we are very interested in becoming a good community partner.”

The team working on opening the store is already at work, with individuals expected any day from the Ace Corporate office, reviewing the store and measuring for their new location. They are currently hammering down details, but Ace has assured them that they can mobilize pretty quickly.

“We will start having people come into the community as soon as this week. Tom and I will be up there very shortly. We will start putting things into a timeline that we think is manageable.”

“This will be our flagship store,” Drautz said, “We hope to open by the middle of May or June 1,” she said. “If we can open quicker, we will.”

Harrenstein thinks this is a great fit for Webster City.

“After speaking with the company I am excited that they are so willing to get active in the community,” he said. “I think we have found a business and ownership group that will partner with the community and are eager to provide hardware services that meet our needs.”

“We want the best product and have Webster City be proud that we are in the community,” summarized Drautz.