From its humble beginnings nearly 40 years ago, this Atlanta-based chain has squarely positioned itself as America’s top home improvement store. In 1978, fired hardware store employees Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus cooked up the idea of a home supplies superstore and built it into an American empire that today has more than 2,200 locations in three countries. The Fortune 500 company’s reputation as a DIY workshop, tool and truck rental source and appliances store is second to none.