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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5



                                November 9, 2000


TruServ Corporation
8600 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, IL  60631-3505

Gentlemen:

         We have served as your counsel in connection with the filing by you of
a Registration Statement on Form S-2 with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), covering the registration of $50,000,000 of Variable
Denomination Subordinated Fixed Rate Term Notes (the "Notes"), of TruServ
Corporation (the "Company"). As your counsel, we have reviewed the corporate
proceedings ("Corporate Proceedings") taken and to be taken to authorize the
execution and delivery by the Company of an indenture (the "Indenture") to be
entered into with U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee, providing
for the issuance of up to $50,000,000 principal amount of Notes of the Company.

         We have examined and are familiar with the Articles of Incorporation of
the Company and its By-laws, both as amended and/or restated. We have also
examined the proposed form of the Indenture, and such other documents, records
and certificates of the Company as we consider necessary for the purpose of this
opinion. Based upon such examination and consideration, it is our opinion that.

         1.       The Company is validly organized and existing under the laws
                  of the State of Delaware and has the corporate power to carry
                  on its present business and is duly qualified to own its
                  properties and conduct its business in those states where such
                  authorization is presently required, except where the failure
                  to so qualify does not have a material adverse effect on the
                  Company;

         2.       Upon completion of the Corporate Proceedings, the execution
                  and delivery of the Indenture and the issuance of the Notes
                  will have been validly authorized on behalf of the Company,
                  and when the Indenture shall have been duly executed and
                  delivered, the Indenture will constitute a valid, binding and
                  enforceable obligation of the Company in accordance with its
                  terms, except as enforcement of provisions thereof may be
                  limited by bankruptcy or other applicable laws affecting the
                  enforcement of creditors' rights;


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TruServ Corporation
November 9, 2000
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         3.       The Notes, when executed, manually or in facsimile, by the
                  proper officers of the Company and authenticated by the
                  Trustee under the Indenture, and issued and sold and paid for
                  in accordance with the Corporate Proceedings, will constitute
                  legally issued, valid, binding and enforceable obligations of
                  the Company in accordance with their terms, except as
                  enforcement of provisions thereof may be limited by bankruptcy
                  or other applicable laws affecting the enforcement of
                  creditors' rights, and will be entitled to the benefit of the
                  Indenture.

         We hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading "Legal
Opinions" in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH