By Jodi Schwan

There will be plenty of nods to the past when Nyberg’s Ace Hardware opens its downtown location Friday, including historic memorabilia, photographs and preserved elements of the building that used to be Texaco Super Service Station and Sid’s Crown Liquor.

Both buildings are listed with the National Register of Historic Places, so the only adjustments that could be made to the outside were signs for Ace.

Nyberg’s Ace Hardware downtown

“It looks like the building was actually designed for us because our signs look so natural on the building,” owner Kevin Nyberg said. “We’ve had many positive comments on the way the exterior of the building came together and looks.”

Nyberg kept both Sid’s exterior signs, which are displayed on the Sid’s side of the building.

Inside, the goal was to keep “as much of the interior to true form as possible,” Nyberg said.

Most of the walls remain their original colors and the flooring also is largely original.

“The garage doors from the Texaco Super Station remain in the ceiling,” Nyberg said. “Also, the hydraulic cylinders for lifting cars were kept in the basement. Customers will notice quite a few Texaco signs throughout. We also have a retro Texaco fuel pump on display.”

A photograph of Sid Epstein working in his dad’s hardware store before he started his liquor store is on display in the downtown Nyberg’s Ace.

Black and white photographs of both original buildings as well as the original Nyberg’s Ace are on display. Three large photos pay tribute to Nyberg’s father, Roy, and his good friend, Sid Epstein, as well as Al Neuharth, who is pictured at the 60th anniversary of SoDak Sports, which he founded in the building.

On the Sid’s side of the building, Nyberg has opened up the ceiling to expose wood joists and incorporated a sliding barn door Epstein used to access his bar room. Epstein’s wooden office door with a chicken wire glass window is being used as Nyberg’s office door.

“The opening between the two stores was not covered but left open to show the clay tile used in the 1920s and ’30s,” Nyberg added.

Other memorabilia on display includes bread pans from Patty Ann’s Bakery, which was located in the Sid’s space in 1938, and an antique scale and wooden ammo boxes from West Sioux Hardware.

Nyberg said he hopes that the downtown store contributes to the area the same way the locally owned business has contributed to Sioux Falls throughout its 60-year history.

“We love our location,” he said. “It has ample parking and is perfect for those who live and work downtown and the businesses that call downtown home.”

Hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

A grand opening is planned for Sept. 18.