Building materials chain eyes Post Falls

POST FALLS – 84 Lumber Co., an East Coast chain that sells building materials, is targeting Post Falls for a new store.

The Pennsylvania-based company submitted site plans last week to the city building department for a store on 10 acres in the State Line Business Park.

84 Lumber describes itself as the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier to professional contractors. About 80 percent of its customers are contractors.

“We cater to large contractors,” said Robyn Hall, the company’s public relations manager. “The products are based on large supplies of plywood, drywall, oriented strand board and lumber.”

Hall said she could not confirm that 84 Lumber would build in Post Falls. New store announcements typically aren’t made until the sale closes on the land, she said.

“We identify sites to open new stores based on housing starts in the region,” Hall said.

The company, founded in 1956, has more than 500 stores nationwide. It posted sales of $2.6 billion last year.

Most of 84 Lumber’s stores are located in the East Coast and Midwest. A Post Falls store would be 84 Lumber’s first venture into the Northwest.

The site plan submitted by the company is the first step in receiving approval to build, said Colin Coles, Post Falls’ senior planner. A site plan shows where the building and the parking would be located on the land.

If the site plan is approved, the company would submit a building permit, Coles said.

The 10 acres targeted by 84 Lumber is on West Seltice Way, west of where the new Sysco building is under construction.