ACME Tools

About Us

Acme Tools was founded by George Kuhlman in 1948 as a small electric motor repair shop in downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota. The business was named “ACME” because it represented the highest level or degree attainable, the peak of perfection. The core values back then were simple; offer the highest quality products at competitive prices, backed by superior professional service and support attainable. Now, over 65 years later, it’s hard to believe that this small town motor repair business has grown to become a major tools and equipment supplier.

Today Acme Tools continues to be one of the premier retailers of tools and equipment with some of the largest first–class showrooms in the nation. With ten locations in North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa, Acme Tools has served the contractor, woodworker and do–it–yourself with a wide selection of tools and equipment from all the major manufacturers.

In 1985 Acme Tools launched a mail order business selling woodworking equipment from print ads in national trade magazines. Later, we pioneered a national catalog business shipping woodworking and construction products throughout the United States and abroad as “Tool Crib of the North”.
In the spring of 1999, we were one of the first to launch an Internet business focusing on tools and equipment. Later that year, we sold the Internet and catalog business only to Amazon.com. For the next 10 years, we focused our efforts on expanding our Midwest retail locations into Minnesota and Iowa.