The Orange County Business Journal honored Crown Ace Hardware as the winner of the 2011 Family Owned Business award in the large business category. 

Crown Ace, described in the retailer's press release as "a throwback to the old-school community hardware store that won over its customers with friendliness and customer service," has been operating since 1949 and has grown to 17 stores. Crown took the name of its hometown, Corona del Mar, which translates to “crown of the sea.”