Try a different Ace. Many of them are owned by different people, so how their store runs, even what they sell, their mask policy, varies greatly store to store.
No thanks. When I walk into my local Lowe’s or Home Depot, even though they’re a half hour away, I’m greeted with cheery faces and smiles and knowledgeable associates, something that hasn’t happened in Ace since the 80s. They had their shot.