When headlines announced True Value’s bankruptcy, many Mesa County residents feared the local stores, which employ more than 130 people, would shut down. However, the founding family, who opened Peach Tree True Value 45 years ago, assures the community that their four stores will remain open and continue serving the area for years to come.

Cathy and Bob Fredrick moved to Grand Junction from Creede, Colorado, in 1978 with prior experience owning and operating a hardware store. They saw an opportunity in Grand Junction and opened Peach Tree True Value on Dec. 23, 1979, with a commitment to exceptional customer service and helping locals find the right parts for their needs.

The Fredricks expanded their business, opening Orchard Mesa True Value in 1983, Grand Junction True Value on North 12th Street in 1991, and Fruita True Value in 2013. Their children are now carrying on the family legacy. Daughter Janet and her husband, Mark Neal, manage the Orchard Mesa and Grand Junction locations, while their other daughter, Jenniffer, and her husband, Don Dunn, handle communications and marketing for Peach Tree and Fruita.

“We love hearing feedback from our customers and providing the knowledgeable, locally-based service that big box stores can’t match,” Dunn said. The family has also enjoyed supporting the community over the years, including work with the local Lions Club.

True Value’s parent company, the investment firm ACON, filed for bankruptcy as part of an agreement to sell the brand to Do It Best. Do It Best, which already operates 4,000 stores primarily in the Midwest, plans to return the True Value brand to a cooperative model.

True Value, which serves over 4,500 stores in 60 countries, has had a presence since 1932. According to the company’s website, John Cotter founded Cotter & Company, a retailer-owned cooperative, with 25 independently owned stores. In 1963, Cotter acquired Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett, which included the True Value trademark.

When asked how the changes will affect local operations, Dunn said the transition should be smooth. Do It Best will likely continue to carry exclusive brands such as EasyCare Paint. “We’ll see some changes at the corporate level, but locally, we’ll keep doing what we do best—offering home improvement products with a commitment to great customer service and helping people find exactly what they need.”