R.P. Lumber Acquires Sparta, Illinois, Wright Building Center Location

The new location bridges the gap between several existing R.P. Lumber locations and will help the dealer better serve customers in Southwestern Illinois.

R.P. Lumber announced it is acquiring Wright Building Center’s Sparta, Ill., location. The Wright Building Center location will begin operating as R.P. Lumber shortly after Labor Day. According to R.P. Lumber, the deal is expected to close on Sept. 5.

“For 39 years, Wright Building Center has served the citizens of the Randolph County area, and we are thrilled to have their team join the R.P. Lumber family,” Robert Plummer, president and CEO of R.P. Lumber, said in a prepared statement. “We have been industry friends and competitors for many years, so it is exciting to add this great location to our footprint in Illinois.”

R.P. Lumber said the acquired store will offer lumber, shingles, siding, drywall, and other building materials as well as a robust selection of hardware merchandise ranging from power tools and paint to plumbing and electrical supplies. A design team will specialize in designing projects from decks and patios to cabinets and countertops for kitchens and bathrooms.

“This new location not only allows us to bridge the gap between several of our existing locations, but it helps us better serve some of our great Southwestern Illinois customers,” Plummer said. “Sparta is a great community and Randolph County is a great place to do business. We’ve sought an opportunity in the area for several years, so working out a deal with an anchor in the community like Wright Building Center was a great solution.”

A second Wright Building Center location will continue to operate in Murphysboro, Ill., and is not part of the deal, according to R.P. Lumber.

“Since 1964, my family has been in the hardware, lumber, and construction business,” Jami Lee Wright, owner of Wright Building Center, said. “We’ve had a great run. We’re thankful for our awesome team and the strong customer base that has kept us going since 1984.”

Edwardsville, Ill.-based R.P. Lumber operates 82 locations in Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Illinois. The company also maintains two truss manufacturing locations in adding to offering e-commerce options.