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R.P. Lumber Iowa

R.P. Lumber Strengthens Presence in Iowa

R.P. Lumber Co. Inc. continues to grow with the pending acquisition of Schrock Lumber Co., a 60-year-old family-owned hardware, lumber and building materials retailer located in Mediapolis, Iowa. The transaction will close on Friday, March 1st. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Brothers Ed and Bob Schrock bought Mediapolis Lumber in 1962 and rebranded it as Schrock Lumber. Ed’s wife Sally, daughter Carolyn Breder and grandsons Derek Breder and Alex Breder have retained family ownership of the company and Carolyn serves as president of the operations today.

“When we decided it was time to transition the leadership of our operation, we knew we wanted to hand the reins to another family-owned company where business decisions would prioritize our employees and our customers and be made in pursuit of our long-term goals,” says Carolyn Breder. “We have found that in R.P. Lumber and the Plummer family.”

Based in Edwardsville, Illinois, R.P. Lumber opened its first location in Staunton, Illinois, in 1977 and has continued to grow throughout the states of Illinois, Missouri, Wyoming and Wisconsin. In early 2021, R.P. Lumber entered the Iowa market by acquiring three locations in two separate transactions; in 2022, they added two more Iowa stores. With the acquisition of Schrock Lumber, R.P. Lumber has six locations in Iowa. 

“Schrock Lumber has always led by example,” says Robert L. Plummer, president and CEO of R.P. Lumber. “They’ve served their community extremely well over the years, and their reputation is impeccable. This is a tough industry, but we feel Schrock Lumber is a bit of a kindred spirit in their commitment to customer service and their dedication to their team, customers and community, and we intend to preserve that commitment.”

About Lindsey Thompson

Lindsey joined the NHPA staff in 2021 as an associate editor for Hardware Retailing magazine. A native of Ohio, Lindsey earned a B.S. in journalism and minors in business and sociology from Ohio University. She loves spending time with her husband, two kids, two cats and one dog, as well as doing DIY projects around the house, going to concerts, boating and cheering on the Cleveland Indians.

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