About Us

Our History

O'Connor Hardware and Rental was founded in 1954 by Jeremiah P. O’Connor in a small 1,500 square foot store in Billerica Center. In 1969 O'Connor Hardware and Rental joined Cotter and Company (TrueValue) a Chicago based buying group. In 1973 the store moved to Tower Farm Rd. into a new 12,500 square foot store less than a mile from the original location.

This location was expanded in 1978 and again in the 1980s to a total of 25,000 square feet. During this time O'Connor Hardware and Rental had grown to be one of the largest TrueValue hardware stores in New England.

By 1996 competition had arrived, and O'Connor Hardware and Rental made the decision to expand the store into a 65,000 square foot facility back in Billerica Center in the location of the original store now known as O'Connor Hardware and Rental Plaza. This move gave us the opportunity to expand our departments and add new departments including Rental.

Now after 60 years of business, we employ over 160 people – some with decades of experience – working for O'Connor Hardware and Rental. The store has grown to be a destination store for many out-of-town customers, but we consider ourselves a great neighborhood hardware store with excellent customer service and the same reputation for having everything the customer needs.

And, most recently, we have moved from Cotter and Company (True Value) to Ace Hardware.