EAST COBB - Steve Ragsdale, 58, was practically raised in his family's popular east Cobb hardware store. So when he sold the business in 2008, many longtime customers were disappointed. But that disappointment has turned out to be short lived.

Ragsdale has bought back his Ace Hardware store in the Market Square shopping center at 2940 Canton Road near Piedmont Road. There will be a grand re-opening Friday and Saturday with free hot dogs and soda. Ragsdale said he has been bombarded with welcome back salutations since the store re-opened April 1.

"Being gone, you realize how much you really meant to somebody," Ragsdale said.

Ragsdale's father, Bill Ragsdale, first opened Ragsdale Ace Hardware in 1954. The original location was in an old house on Roswell Road. In 1957, it moved to Marietta's Town & Country shopping center. In 1972, the business relocated to where it is today.

Steve Ragsdale took over the family business when his father died in 1989. He'd grown up in the store since he was 3 years old. When he decided to sell it two years ago, he said he was simply burnt out from running it for so long and wanted to spend more time with his family.

Last December, the previous owner decided to close the store after just 14 months in business. Though he had moved on to other ventures with his business partner Grover Dobbins, Ragsdale said he couldn't stand to the see his beloved hardware store close.

"Ace approached me and the landlord approached me to see if I was interested," he said. "As we talked, it became more enticing. So we decided we would buy it back."

The re-opened, 9,600-square-foot hardware store has increased its lawn and gardening products, and now includes a custom woodworking service for customers, said Dobbins, who is co-owner.

Some familiar faces have returned. Beverly Burroughs, 64, who lives nearby, said she is glad to be back. The 10-year employee said, "It's touching to hear how thrilled my neighbors and former customers are to have (Steve) back."

Ragsdale said he has always strived to offer customers "convenience, quality, service and value," in spite of competition from big box home improvement stores. Many faithful customers said those things are what have made them so loyal to Ragsdale Ace Hardware.

"When you need something, Steve has always bent over backwards to get it for you," said east Cobb firefighter Jesse Costa, 46, who does maintenance work at nearby Piedmont Baptist Church. "The customer service is top notch."

Longtime customer James Holcomb of east Cobb knew the late Bill Ragsdale and watched his son follow in his footsteps.

"He was a genuine hardware man," said Holcomb, 67, a retired Lockheed-Martin employee. "Steve has learned well from his dad."