Carter Lumber closes Van Wert store

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Local residents, government officials and, sadly, even the employees of the local Carter Lumber Company store were stunned to learn that the store was closed Friday as part of a corporate-wide consolidation.

Mayor Don Farmer said his office had no idea the store was being closed. “We were totally caught by surprise,” the mayor said, adding, “We were never notified of this.”

Under the Carter Lumber consolidation, 26 “smaller market” stores were closed in Oho, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina and Indiana. During the past 18 months, new stores were opened in Baltimore, Md., and Washington, D.C.; Chesapeake and Richmond, Va.; Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus; Indianapolis, Ind.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; and the Outer Banks area of North Carolina.

Carter Lumber President Jeff Donley said the store closings is part of the company’s push to grow its operations in larger markets, with the company nearly doubling its business over the last few years. “During the recent economic downturn, while many competitors were trying to survive, Carter Lumber transformed itself from a $500 million traditional lumberyard into almost a $1 billion professional lumberyard,” he said. “In order to support our growth, we have consolidated some smaller market stores, reallocated business to other stores in our company, or pulled out of markets that would not be able to support our future growth.”

The company said that fewer than 30 full-time positions are expected to be lost by the consolidations and store closings.

Housing starts in the areas around the new stores has brought additional success to Carter Lumber, according to Kip Gleckler, senior vice president of field operations. “Sometimes, we make this business too complicated,” Gleckler said. “Look at the markets, pick the best location and hire talented people to service the customer.

“It’s that simple; it’s not like we’re saving lives, we’re just shipping lumber and we need to do its better than anyone else,” he added.

In addition to Van Wert, other area stores closing include those in Bucyrus, Celina, Clyde and Kenton, while a sign outside the local store urges Carter Lumber customers to shop at a store in Columbus Grove that will remain open.