New housewares store due at Princeton Shopping Center

Owners of Ace Hardware to open at site once occupied by Princeton Public Library

By: Rachel Silverman
   Smith’s Ace Housewares, a new home-goods store, will open its doors in the Princeton Shopping Center later this month.
   The store, which joins sister store Smith Ace Hardware in the shopping center, will be located in the space formerly occupied by the Princeton Public Library while the new downtown library building was under construction. The corner location is between Color Me Mine and Chestnut Tree Books.
   The 3,000-square-foot store will feature merchandise including small appliances, cookware, kitchenware, storage and organization items, wood furniture, knives and sharpening services, as well as specialty cleaning items. Smith’s Ace Housewares also will offer its customers gift-wrapping service for items purchased in their stores.
   Both companies are family run, headed by brothers George, Ed and Leigh Smith. The family’s original location, in the Yardville section of Hamilton Township, opened more than 60 years ago.
   "We are both proud and excited to continue the growth of our family business and to have the opportunity to do so with this new location at Princeton Shopping Center," co-owner George Smith said in a news release.
   Chris Hanington, the shopping center’s general manager, also expressed enthusiasm.
   "Ace has been such a strong tenant at the center for the past three years," she said. "We feel very fortunate to have yet another Smith’s Ace business opening its doors here to offer our customers such quality merchandise and selection."