When the Rite Aid in Felton went dark in August of this year, it left more than an empty building behind. For many residents, it marked the loss of a familiar gathering place—a stop for prescriptions, last-minute essentials and, for generations of locals, a scoop of Thrifty ice cream after Little League or soccer games.
Now, the vacant building is set to begin a new chapter as the Scarborough Family, who operate a fourth-generation, locally rooted hardware business, prepares to transform the space into their newest Ace Hardware store—bringing jobs, expanded services and a strong dose of nostalgia with it.
For Morgan Scarborough, one of the family members leading the acquisition, the decision to come to Felton was both practical and personal.
“Felton was the only town in the valley where we didn’t have a presence,” Scarborough said. “From Boulder Creek to Scotts Valley, we’ve always tried to be part of the communities we serve. When we saw a gap here, we saw an opportunity—not just for business, but to support the town.”
Scarborough is quick to acknowledge a concern some Felton residents have raised: the presence of Felton True Value Paint & Hardware, another long-standing local hardware store.
“I think Don runs a great store,” Scarborough said. “We would never go into a market with the intention of putting someone out of business. That’s just not how we operate.”
Instead, Scarborough sees Felton as a growing community whose needs are evolving.
“There comes a time when communities outgrow the size of their original stores,” he said. “We’ve seen that throughout the valley—grocery stores, services, everything. Our goal is to complement what’s already here, not erase it.”
In fact, Scarborough said certain product lines carried at other family locations will be intentionally excluded from the Felton store to avoid unnecessary overlap.
While the Felton location will offer all the standard hardware staples residents expect, Scarborough said it will also have a distinct identity of its own.
A major feature will be a large barbecue and outdoor-living section, reflecting the lifestyle of the San Lorenzo Valley. Plans are also underway for a small garden center, offering plants, soil, pottery and seasonal items once outdoor improvements are complete.
But perhaps the most talked-about feature is one that dates back decades.
“We’re keeping the Thrifty ice cream counter,” Scarborough said. “That was really important to me. I grew up going to Rite Aid for ice cream. I took my own kids there after games. I didn’t want that to disappear from Felton.”
The spacious parking lot—far larger than those at some of the family’s other stores—also opens the door for something new: community events.
“We finally have the space to do things like barbecue demos, garden events or vendor showcases,” Scarborough said. “That’s something we’ve wanted to do for years but just didn’t have the room for.”
Despite operating multiple stores across California—from the San Lorenzo Valley to Carmel, Lake Tahoe and even Fort Jones—Scarborough emphasizes that the business remains deeply family-run.
“Our corporate structure is very flat,” he said. “At the top, it’s myself and my cousin Michaela Clements, and beneath that is a team of family members who all play key roles.”
Those roles include advertising, pricing, merchandising and operations, handled by siblings and cousins—some of whom represent the fourth generation now working in the company.
“Anyone in our family who’s willing to put the work in has a place here,” Scarborough said. “That’s how it started with my grandfather back in the late 1950s in Scotts Valley, and that’s still our philosophy.”
The Felton Ace Hardware store, located at 6123 Highway 9, is expected to employ around 20 people, many of them local. Some current employees who live in the south Felton area have already asked to transfer, while new hires will help round out the team.
“One of my favorite parts of this job is giving kids their first job,” Scarborough said. “Now I’m seeing kids I coached in Little League or youth basketball working in our stores. It’s really special to watch them take that next step.”
Scarborough said the store is aiming for a soft opening in late February or early March, with a grand opening planned for May, once operations are running smoothly. The grand opening is expected to include a large community event in the parking lot.
And for those still wishing the building had become a Trader Joe’s?
“I’m sorry,” Scarborough said with a laugh. “I had nothing to do with that.”
While this will be the family’s 12th location, Scarborough said the focus remains close to home.
“The valley is home,” he said. “At the end of the day, I just want to make home better if I can.”
As Felton continues to evolve—Felton Music Hall buzzing, the Emerald Mallard pumping out smashburgers and downtown feeling newly energized—the Scarboroughs hope their presence will add to that momentum rather than disrupt it.
“Felton is more vibrant than it’s been in years,” Scarborough said. “If our store can help support that, even a little, then we’re doing something right.”
