84 Lumber to close seven stores

84 Lumber has announced it will close seven stores today, July 6, in the following locations: Macedonia, Ohio; Florence, Ky., Wyoming, Mich.; Overlea, Md.; Michigan City, Ind.; Austin, Texas; and McAllen, Texas.

With the exception of the McAllen store, the majority of units were older stores with small footprints, according to Jeff Nobers, VP marketing and public relations for 84 Lumber. Most of the stores slated for closure are located in markets with minimal housing starts or they can be consolidated into other existing 84 Lumber units.

“In each case, these stores have lost money for the past few years and upon our internal reviews, are either not in markets that would become profitable even with continuing recovery, or in markets where consolidation makes sound business sense,” Nobers told Home Channel News.

The Florence store, for example, will be consolidated with a Cleves, Ohio, store, and the location in Austin will be merged with Georgetown and Conroe.

Macedonia and Overlea will be both served from several other existing 84 Lumber stores in their respective areas.

The company is leaving the state of Michigan, however, with the closure of its unit in Wyoming, Mich.

In McAllen and Michigan City, 84 Lumber has chosen to exit the local markets.

These closings leave 84 Lumber, the industry’s largest privately owned pro dealer, with a store count of 281 in 35 states. The company operates an additional 24 door shops, engineered wood product centers, installation hubs and truss plants.

An 84 Lumber store in Milton, Fla., will reopen in early August, Nobers said. The unit is located in the Pensacola area.