Committed to Exceptional Hometown Service

Bob and Flo Swanson opened a Gambles Hardware store on Main Street in Webster, WI, in 1967. In the mid-1980s, the store became an Ace Hardware franchise. In the early 1990s, Bob and Flo sold to Bruce and Lois Rypkema, who ran the store successfully for nine years.

We (Stefan and Deb Benson) purchased the business in 2002, returning to our hometown from the Twin Cities to raise our family. And with an eye toward customer-focused expansion and growth through more inventory and high-quality national brands.

An opportunity to provide the Frederic community with the same quality and service came in 2015 with our purchase of the sport goods building south of downtown. Our son, Zac, was involved in every aspect of opening the new Benson Ace, and as general manager, promoted the addition of the Stihl outdoor power equipment and Cub Cadet mowers and lawn tractors.

The success of the power equipment department in Frederic paved the way for both stores to offer residential and commercial equipment, including Bad Boy zero turn mowers and Intimidator 4×4 utility vehicles (UTVs).

In 2022, Zac led further expansion of the recreational motorsports and outdoor power equipment business by establishing Benson POWER. Located next to the Frederic Benson Ace, the dealership offers UTVs, ATVs, electric motorbikes, Makita cordless outdoor equipment and power tools, and zero-turn mowers from Bad Boy and Cub Cadet. Plus snow removal attachments for UTVs and ATVs. In 2023, Zac and his team were the top-selling Intimidator dealership in the country.

A 2019 addition to the Webster shop/rental building, along with the addition of floor jacks in both Benson locations, improved the capacity to service power equipment. The expanded workspace enables Benson Ace to offer authorized warranty work for a wide range of small-engine product brands, along with UTV service and repair. During 2023, Benson Ace in Webster significantly enhanced the ability to service rental and repair customers with the construction of a new building that enables customers to drive through the facility for easy, efficient loading and unloading when renting equipment or dropping off and picking up repair items.

The Benson family and our exceptional employees value our identity as a hometown business. We established the Benson Ace Scholarships program to support area high school students pursuing education and careers in the trades. And we are proud to participate in and support a wide range of community-based services, non-profit organizations, and local celebrations.