Wright Building Center, a long-time industry presence in southern Illinois, has been acquired by R.P. Lumber Co., Inc. in Sparta, Illinois.
“Wright Building Center has been serving the citizens of Randolph County for 39 years, and we are thrilled to have their team join the R.P. Lumber family,” said Robert Plummer, president and CEO of R.P. Lumber. “We’ve been industry friends and competitors for many years, so it’s exciting to expand our footprint in Illinois with this great location,” Plummer added.
“My family has been in the hardware, lumber, and construction business since 1964,” said Jami Lee Wright, owner of Wright Building Center and a member of LBM Journal’s inaugural class of “40 under 40” strong leaders in the LBM community. “We’ve had a fantastic run. We’re grateful for our fantastic team and the loyal customers who have kept us running since 1984. R.P. Lumber runs an impressive business. “We’re excited to see how they develop and grateful to be moving on to the next chapter,” Wright added.
R.P. Lumber will offer a diverse range of hardware products, including power tools, paint, and plumbing and electrical supplies, in addition to lumber, shingles, siding, drywall, and other building materials. Its design team will specialize in everything from decks and patios to kitchen and bathroom cabinetry and worktops. They will also provide door and window services from measuring through installation, as well as advise to DIY homes and services like as online purchasing and job site delivery to professional contractors.
“Not only does this new location help us bridge the gap between several of our existing locations, but it also allows us to better serve some of our great southwestern Illinois customers.” Sparta is a wonderful town, and Randolph County is a fantastic area to do business. We had been looking for an opportunity in the neighborhood for several years, so negotiating a contract with a community pillar like Wright Building Center was a great solution. We are honored and blessed that Jami Lee and the Wright family have entrusted us with their store, and we are excited to begin serving the market,” Plummer added.
Wright Building Center and R.P. Lumber teams will start collaborating on Monday, August 7 in preparation for the transaction closing on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. The Sparta location will reopen as R.P. Lumber shortly after Labor Day.
