About Us
Family-owned for three proud generations.
Our Story
Proudly local, family-owned, and helping our neighbours get the job done right since 1958.
Robinson Ace Hardware has proudly served New York’s Capital Region since 1958, when the business first opened as Robinson & Hennet. From the very beginning, it was built on a simple but powerful idea – help your neighbors, share your knowledge, and be a dependable part of the community.
In 1979, Mr. Hennet sold his half of the business to Garry and Mike Robinson, marking an important transition toward full family ownership. As the business continued to grow, Donald Robinson assumed full ownership and established Robinson Hardware, further strengthening its reputation for trust, service, and strong local relationships.
When Don retired in 1991, leadership transitioned to the next generation, with Garry and Mike Robinson taking over operations. A few years later, in 1994, Mike moved on to pursue other opportunities, while Garry Robinson continued to lead the business for more than two decades, providing steady direction and reinforcing the values that defined the company.
During Garry’s leadership, the business affiliated with Ace Hardware, becoming Robinson Ace Hardware – combining the strength of a national brand with the service and independence of a locally owned business.
In 2015, the next chapter began as Judd Robinson and longtime leader William Swartz III took over ownership following Garry’s retirement, bringing a renewed focus on growth and the overall customer experience. That momentum led to a major milestone in 2016 with the acquisition of Olsen’s Hardware in Slingerlands, New York, transforming it into a full-service Hardware & Garden Center and expanding Robinson’s presence in the region.
In 2021, Rob McDonnell joined the ownership group, further strengthening leadership and driving continued expansion. That same year, the team acquired Crescent Hardware in Clifton Park, New York, establishing a third location and reinforcing Robinson Ace Hardware’s commitment to serving communities across the Capital Region.
Today, Robinson Ace Hardware has grown into a full-service home and garden destination – offering hardware, paint, lawn and garden, outdoor power equipment, rentals, and small engine repair – while continuing to evolve with the needs of its customers.
Despite that growth, Robinson Ace Hardware remains what it has always been: a locally owned, family-operated, community-based business. It’s a place where customers are greeted by name, where advice comes from experience, and where helping people is just as important as the products on the shelves.
More than six decades later, we’re still here, still local, and still committed to serving our communities with the same care, knowledge, and dedication that started it all.
Visit One of Our Three Locations
Guilderland
Slingerlands
