Costello's Ace Hardware intends to open two new stores by early April, bringing the Long Island, N.Y., hardware company's store count to 17.

The new stores will be located in East Islip and Smithtown, N.Y. 

"We feel that we have a market that can support independent stores," said president Mike Costello in an interview with Home Channel News. "And as we find the right locations, we just keep going for it."