TL;DR
Get business pricing on tools and workshop supplies
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
R.P. Lumber opened its 100th retail location in Monmouth, Illinois, on Oct. 12, 2026. The company renovated a former auto dealership for the store, which it says will expand access to building materials, hardware and services for customers in western Illinois.
R.P. Lumber opened its 100th retail location on October 12 in Monmouth, Illinois, the company announced, marking a milestone for the retailer as it adds a store intended to serve customers across western Illinois. The new location occupies a renovated former auto dealership that had been vacant for about two years.
The store sits along one of Monmouth’s primary commercial corridors. R.P. Lumber said the project included a full interior demolition, major building improvements, new fencing and construction of a new warehouse. The company described the work as an extensive renovation of the previously unused property.
The new location is intended to give local customers access to professional-grade building materials and a broader hardware selection, as well as additional inventory and services. The company said it will help serve its large customer base throughout western Illinois. The announcement did not specify the store’s size, staffing levels, product inventory or operating hours.
Company CEO Robert Plummer tied the investment to the community and to R.P. Lumber’s history. He said the store would bring additional resources to the area while putting a vacant site back to productive use. Co-founder Donna Plummer described reaching 100 stores as a milestone that was difficult to imagine when the company began in 1977.
A New Store for Western Illinois
The opening combines a company growth milestone with a local retail investment. For Monmouth-area customers, the stated purpose is practical: a nearby source for building materials, hardware and related services. Whether the store changes local prices, product availability or shopping patterns will depend on its offerings and customer demand, details the announcement does not provide.
The redevelopment also returned a commercial property that had reportedly been vacant for about two years to active use. The company says it made substantial building and site improvements, including a new warehouse. The announcement does not disclose the project’s cost, the number of jobs created or any public funding involved, so the economic scale beyond the store opening cannot yet be established.
At the company level, the 100th location marks an expansion from its origins in Staunton, Illinois. The milestone signals the retailer’s current footprint, but the announcement does not identify a target for future store openings or describe how quickly the company has added locations.
Popular right now
Vitamix Propel Series 750 Professional-Grade Blender, 4 Programs, Black
Roborock F25 Ultra Steam Wet Dry Vacuum Mop
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Manual Milk Frother, Silver
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Staunton to 100 Stores
R.P. Lumber traces its start to 1977, when Robert and Donna Plummer began the company in Staunton, Illinois. In remarks provided with the opening announcement, Robert Plummer said its stated aims remain supporting local communities, creating opportunities for employees and customers, and providing service.
The Monmouth store is the company’s 100th retail location, according to the announcement reported by Hardware Retailing on October 12, 2026. The property had previously housed an auto dealership and, according to the report, had remained vacant for approximately two years before the renovation. The source identifies the store’s opening date but does not give a detailed construction timeline.
The announcement presents the new location as part of R.P. Lumber’s effort to serve customers in western Illinois. It does not provide a list of nearby stores or a comparison of the Monmouth location’s assortment with those outlets, so the exact change in regional coverage is not clear.
“We wanted to invest in Monmouth because it’s a great community filled with hardworking people who share many of the same values that have guided our company for nearly five decades.”
— Robert Plummer, CEO of R.P. Lumber
Store Operations and Local Impact
The announcement confirms the opening date and location, but leaves several operating details unanswered. It does not state how many people the store employs, its hours, the full range of products and services, or whether it offers delivery or other services beyond the general reference to additional resources and inventory.
It is also unclear how much the renovation cost, who completed the work, or whether any incentives or public funds supported the project. R.P. Lumber’s statements about improved access and community benefits are company claims; the announcement includes no independent assessment of expected customer demand, local economic effects or the property’s prior condition beyond its reported vacancy.
The Store Begins Serving Customers
The store officially opened for business on October 12, 2026, so the immediate next step is serving customers in Monmouth and the surrounding western Illinois area. R.P. Lumber has not announced a later opening event, additional construction phase or another store milestone in the cited report.
Further information about staffing, store hours, available services and the company’s future expansion plans may clarify how the location will fit into its regional network. Until those details are released, the confirmed development is the opening itself and the renovation of the former dealership site.
Key Questions
Where did R.P. Lumber open its 100th store?
The 100th retail location opened in Monmouth, Illinois, along one of the city’s primary commercial corridors.
When did the Monmouth store open?
R.P. Lumber said the store opened for business on October 12, 2026.
What was on the site before the store?
The location was a former auto dealership that had reportedly been vacant for approximately two years. R.P. Lumber said the redevelopment included interior demolition, building improvements, new fencing and a new warehouse.
What will the new store offer?
The company said it will offer professional-grade building materials, a broader hardware selection, and additional inventory and services. The announcement did not provide a full product list or store hours.
How many R.P. Lumber locations are there now?
The company described the Monmouth opening as its 100th retail location. The report did not provide a breakdown by state or details about future store plans.
Source: rss
