Edwardsville, Ill. — R.P. Lumber continues to expand its presence in Iowa with the acquisition of Southwest Builder Supply in Mount Ayr. This is the family-owned hardware and building materials retailer’s 84th location, and its fifth in Iowa.
“Joe and Debbie Murphy and their team at Southwest Builder Supply have been serving Southwest and Central Iowa for decades. It is our privilege to honor that legacy by seamlessly continuing to serve the region and earn the respect of our customers for many years to come,” said Robert Plummer, president & CEO of R.P. Lumber.
R.P. Lumber opened its first location in Staunton, Illinois in 1977, and now, based in Edwardsville, Illinois, the company has continued to grow throughout the states of Illinois, Missouri, Wyoming, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
“While certainly unique in its own right, Mount Ayr shares many similarities to the communities we currently serve,” said Plummer. “We have a 45-year history of delivering our “Best Service. Best Value.” promise to both homeowners and pro contractors in dozens of similar Midwestern communities, and we look forward to doing the same in Ringgold County.”
The owners of Southwest Builder Supply have operated the company and other local businesses for decades. “In searching for the right partner to take over our operation, we knew we wanted a well-established family-owned business that would continue to value and maintain the relationships we’ve built over the years,” said Joe Murphy.
“When R.P. Lumber joined the conversation, we felt an immediate kinship and reassuring sense of trust,” added Debbie Murphy.
The transaction will close on Friday, and the store will begin operating as R.P. Lumber on Saturday. The Southwest Builder Supply team will continue on with R.P. Lumber and the company will look to recruit additional staff and expand its service offerings in the community.
