Grand Marais, Minn.-based Cook County Home Center acquired all the assets of Sawtooth Lumber. The consolidation of the two lumber yards is expected to provide customers of both businesses with access to additional inventory and improved service, according to the companies.
Sawtooth Lumber, also based in Grand Marais, Minn., will become the Westside branch of the Cook County Home Center. The store will serve as the receiving location for all building supplies. The Eastside branch will remain the Ace Hardware store and self-service lumberyard with most of its current building supply inventory, according to Cook County Home Center.
“We were outgrowing our Eastside location,” Nate Sheils, president of Cook County Home Center, said in a prepared statement. “This acquisition gives us more space, consolidates the buying power of the two lumberyards, and allows us to manage a larger inventory. That is a real benefit for our contractor customers and vendors.”
Customer deliveries from the lumberyard will originate at the Westside location to allow for maximum consolidation of jobsite deliveries and improve delivery efficiency and timeliness. Tom Junker, former owner of Sawtooth, will continue to operate his family’s other lumberyards: Voyageur Lumber in Ely, Junker’s Lumber in Littlefork, and Porky’s Building Supply in Eveleth.
“This acquisition allows us to continue the growth of our business,” owner Jeff Buetow said. “And we plan to continue providing our hardware store and lumberyard customers with all the best products and services.”
