RP Lumber partners with Wright Building Center in Sparta, Illinois

The latest venture will see the former competitors become partners

RP Lumber Co Inc. has partnered with the Sparta, IL location of Wright Building Center, which has held a long-time standing industry presence in Southwestern Illinois.

“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,” said Robert Plummer, President & CEO of R.P. Lumber. “We have been industry friends and competitors for many years, so it is exciting to add this great location to our footprint in Illinois,” Plummer continued.

“Since 1964, my family has been in the hardware, lumber, and construction business,“ said Jami Lee Wright, Owner of Wright Building Center. “We’ve had a great run. We’re thankful for our awesome team and the strong customer base, which has kept us going since 1984. RP Lumber runs an impressive operation. We’re excited to watch them grow and look forward to moving on to our next chapter as partners,” Wright added.

In addition to offering high-quality lumber, shingles, siding, drywall and other building materials at competitive prices, RP Lumber will also feature a robust selection of hardware merchandise. They will range from power tools and paint to plumbing and electrical supplies. Its experienced design team will design everything from decks and patios, to cabinets and countertops for kitchens and bathrooms.

New beginnings

“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. Sparta is a great community and Randolph County is wonderful for business. We’ve sought an opportunity in the area for several years, so working out a deal with Wright Building Center was a great solution. Jami Lee and the Wright family have built a fantastic business, and we are honored they have entrusted us with their store,” Plummer added.   

The teams at Wright Building Center and RP Lumber began work together on Monday, August 7th in preparation for the transaction closing on September 5, 2023. The Sparta store jumped into operations with RP Lumber shortly after Labor Day.