Aubuchon Hardware furthers support for Middleboro fire safety initiative during grand reopening
Aubuchon Hardware business leaders and employees, along with members of the Middleboro Fire Department, celebrate the Middleboro hardware store's grand reopening on Friday, Feb. 6. Photos by Sam Tucker
The hardware store's revamped store space was buzzing with customers on Friday.
The store celebrated the recent renovations and becoming part of the Ace Hardware Store collective, something business leaders said improves their product offerings. 
The grand reopening celebrated the collaboration between the store and the Middleboro Fire Department's fire safety initiative, along with the revamped store space.
Aubuchon Hardware business leaders and employees, along with members of the Middleboro Fire Department, celebrate the Middleboro hardware store's grand reopening on Friday, Feb. 6. Photos by Sam Tucker
The hardware store's revamped store space was buzzing with customers on Friday.
The store celebrated the recent renovations and becoming part of the Ace Hardware Store collective, something business leaders said improves their product offerings.
The grand reopening celebrated the collaboration between the store and the Middleboro Fire Department's fire safety initiative, along with the revamped store space.
MIDDLEBORO — Business leaders and members of the Middleboro Fire Department celebrated Aubuchon Hardware’s grand reopening and donations to the department’s fire safety initiative on Friday.
The store has worked over recent months to renovate and expand the Middleboro hardware business, and have also forged a collaboration with the fire department to support their program in delivering safety audits and freely installing smoke alarms in resident’s homes.
The department received a donation of 26 smoke alarms from Aubuchon Hardware, and the store has also started a roundup campaign to fund the initiative. The store will match every donation customers make up to a $2,500 total through February.
Middleboro Fire Captain Timothy Andrews, who helped start the “Three, Two, One” fire safety outreach program, said the support will help the department reach more Middleboro households with their fire safety walkthroughs and free smoke alarm installations.
“We're getting very low on the money to visit the houses, and we still have a ton of houses that need to be done,” Andrews said.
The department secured about $215,00 in grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to purchase alarms and fund operating costs for the initiative. As the success of the program has grown, the funding has begun to run out.
Fire Chief Owen Thompson said they have enough funds to continue the program over the next month or two, and Aubuchon — through about 1,000 discounted smoke alarms they’ve sold to the department and Friday’s donations — has been a strong collaborator.
“It has honestly really stretched our program and the ability to continue working in people's homes further than we thought it was going to be. It's been a huge partnership,” Thompson said.
Thompson said the department has visited around 300 Middleboro households to date, and the sign up list for the initiative is still plenty full.
Although the day highlighted the community support Aubuchon is providing in Middleboro, it was also their grand reopening since the store has been expanded and renovated.
Store Manager Tom Kozlowski said they have tripled in size and doubled their hardware inventory. The store’s recent move to become a part of a larger cooperative of Ace Hardware stores has also allowed them to bolster their power tool and grill offerings.
Regional Director John Schlenner said they aim to be the “hometown hardware store” for Middleboro, and the fire safety collaboration has been successful since Andrews first asked the store for help last year.
“We might own a bunch of stores, but we want to be part of the community,” Schlenner said.
For Middleboro businesses interested in playing a role in fundraising, they can contact the fire department’s business line at: 508-946-2461.
