Aubuchon Company Acquiring F.L. Davis Ace in Arkansas
- Ben Aubuchon
- 24 minutes ago
- 4 min read
May 8, 2026, Westminster, MA — Renae Estes and Caitlin Sartain have entered into an agreement with the Aubuchon Company, the oldest and largest family-owned group of hardware stores in America, pursuant to which Aubuchon will acquire the assets and operations of seven F.L. Davis Ace locations in Arkansas. The parties will jointly own and operate one additional F.L. Davis Ace location. All stores will remain branded as “F.L. Davis Ace.” Travis Sartain will stay on in a leadership role.
Following a June 5th settlement, Aubuchon will operate 144 stores across 12 states.
"For more than 70 years, the Davis family has been building something remarkable in Arkansas, a business rooted in hard work, impeccable service, and a real understanding of the communities they call home," said William E. Aubuchon, IV, President & CEO. "F.L. Davis started the company in 1954 with his wife, Cleta. F.L. and Cleta sold the business to their daughter, Renae, in 1998, and together with her daughter Caitlin, they've grown it into eight stores trusted throughout the region. We have enormous respect for what they've created, and we are honored by the trust they've placed in us to carry that legacy forward."
"To our customers and our team, thank you," said Renae Estes. "You are the reason for everything we have built. For more than 70 years, our family has had the privilege of serving this region, and that has only been possible because of the loyalty of our customers and the dedication of our team. Many of you have been with us for decades, and watching this business grow alongside you has been one of the great honors of our lives."
"This decision comes from a desire to step back and retire, but we are leaving knowing our stores are in good hands," Renae continued. "We are proud that Travis will be continuing with the company, and our customers and team can expect the same care and quality that have defined F.L. Davis from the beginning. We have chosen a partner who understands that commitment and values the hard work our teams have put in over so many years."
"My mom and I chose Aubuchon because their values mirror our own," said Caitlin Sartain. "They are a family-run, multi-generational company that genuinely values its people. We trust them to take F.L. Davis forward, to create new opportunities for our team, and to honor the reputation we have built across the region."
"We work hard, care for each other, and have fun," said Will. "We're proud to welcome the F.L. Davis team into our family and to support them for the long term. With this acquisition, we also take our first steps into Arkansas — a new state, and a new time zone, for our company — and we couldn't ask for a better team to enter alongside."
About F.L. Davis Ace
F.L. Davis Ace traces its roots to 1954, when F.L. Davis founded the company in the Miller bottoms of north central Arkansas, an area that now lies beneath Greers Ferry Lake. Anticipating the growth the lake would bring, F.L. moved his family to the Stark community (later renamed Greers Ferry) in 1960, where he and his wife opened F.L. Davis Mercantile, a combined grocery store, feed store, and auto repair shop. Over the years, the business steadily expanded its assortment of building materials and hardware, eventually opening a new building across the street dedicated to meeting the region's home and construction needs.
In 1998, F.L.'s daughter, Renae Estes, purchased the business from her father. With the help of her daughter, Caitlin Sartain, Renae grew F.L. Davis into eight locations across Arkansas — a mix of traditional hardware stores and larger-format home centers. Today, F.L. Davis Ace operates hardware stores in Pea Ridge, Centerton, Sherwood, Fayetteville, and Tontitown, and home centers in Greers Ferry, Heber Springs, and Mountain View. What sets F.L. Davis apart is its commitment to quality, its knowledgeable team, and its deep roots in the communities it calls home.
About the Aubuchon Company
Founded in 1908 by William E. Aubuchon, Sr. in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the Aubuchon Company is the oldest and largest family-owned chain of hardware stores in America. Now in its fourth generation under William E. Aubuchon, IV and headquartered in Westminster, Massachusetts, the Company has navigated more than a century of change, with several distinct periods of meaningful growth along the way. In September 2023, the Company opened another historic chapter by joining the Ace Hardware Cooperative, a partnership that has powered its most ambitious era of growth yet. Following the purchase of F.L. Davis Ace, the Aubuchon Company will operate 144 stores in 12 states, predominantly under the "Aubuchon Hardware" and "Aubuchon Ace Hardware" brands, and also including "Lyndonville Ace Hardware" in Lyndonville, VT; "Village Hardware" in Alexandria, VA; "Ace Hardware" in Pennsylvania; "Cornell's Hardware" in Eastchester, NY; "Martin's Hardware & Building Supply" in Bristol, VT; "Campbell's Ace Hardware" in Maine; "Zimmerman's Ace Hardware" in Burtonsville, MD; "J.B. Hostetter & Sons Ace Hardware" in Mount Joy, PA; "Curry Ace Hardware" in Massachusetts; "Brunswick Ace Hardware" in Brunswick, MD; "Bibens Ace Hardware" in Vermont; "Woodstock Ace Home & Hardware" in Woodstock, VT; "Brown & Roberts Ace Hardware" in Brattleboro, VT; "Anco Ace Hardware" in New Jersey; "Rand's Ace Hardware" in Plymouth, NH; "Spangler's Ace Hardware" in Dover, PA; and "F.L. Davis Ace" in Arkansas. The Aubuchon Company's purpose is "to make a difference by serving others," and its mission is "Build leaders. Build culture. Serve others." For more information about the Aubuchon Company, visit aubuchon.company. To shop online, visit hardwarestore.com.