R.P. Lumber acquired Southwest Builder Supply, a family-owned hardware and building materials retailer in Mount Ayr, Iowa. The acquisition represents R.P. Lumber’s 84th location overall and fifth store in Iowa.
“Joe and Debbie Murphy and their team at Southwest Builder Supply have been serving southwest and central Iowa for decades,” Robert Plummer, president and CEO of R.P. Lumber, said in a news release. “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.”
The transaction is expected to close September 16 and the Southwest Builder Supply store will begin operating as R.P. Lumber on September 17. The Southwest Builder Supply team will continue post-acquisition and R.P. Lumber said the company will look to recruit additional staff and expand its service offerings in the community.
“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,” Joe Murphy said. “When R.P. Lumber joined the conversation, we felt an immediate kinship and reassuring sense of trust.”
R.P. Lumber offers high-quality lumber, shingles, siding, drywall, other building materials, and a robust selection of hardware merchandise ranging from power tools and paint to plumbing and electrical supplies. The Edwardsville, Ill.-based company operates locations throughout Illinois, Missouri, Wyoming, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
