Pedrotti Ace Hardware, located in Benicia, California, celebrated a century in business with a 500-drone light show July 3.
The store was founded in Crockett, California, in 1922, serving that local community for 70 years before moving to Benicia on Feb. 14, 1992.
"I had taken a two-man operation in its waning years, thus sparing it from extinction, to become the most premier Ace store in the country," said Gene Pedrotti, the store's third-generation owner, according to an Ace Hardware press release. "And now here we are at our centennial. Yeah, it’s been a great ride and worth the pain."
The drone light show lasted about 10 minutes, as the mesmerizing sight took viewers "back in time" to tell the story of Benicia and Ace Hardware.
The coordinated drones told the story of Benecia's history, starting in 1847, and the growth the town saw through the gold rush, the important pieces of legislation passed there when it was California's state capital and many other interesting facts about the town.
In 1924, Ace Co-op Hardware was formed, and years later, they moved the store west. Gene Pedrotti joined Pedrotti Ace Hardware shortly after the store moved to Benicia.
Prior to the day's events, the mayor of Benicia, Steve Young, thanked Pedrotti Ace Hardware for its generosity and called the store's 100 years in business "quite an achievement," according to MSN.
"I want to thank Pedrotti Ace Hardware for their generosity for bringing this drone spectacular to our waterfront," Young said.
