Ace Hardware locations in California outside larger counties (Corning, Alturas, Arbuckle, Atwater, ...) 25. Meiners Oaks Hardware. Description: As your local Ace Hardware, our store is a member of the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry. Ace Hardware began as a small chain of stores in 1924 and has grown to include more than 4,600 stores in 50 states and more than 70 countries.As part of a cooperative, every Ace Hardware store is independently owned.