April 29, 2024
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R.P. Lumber buys Golden Rule Lumber in Ottawa

R.P. says it will merge its 2 Ottawa locations

By Derek Barichello
Golden Rule Lumber announced Tuesday, March 19, 2024, its Ottawa business was sold to RP Lumber.

Golden Rule Lumber announced Tuesday, March 19, 2024, its Ottawa business was sold to RP Lumber. (Charlie Ellerbrock)

Golden Rule Lumber on Ottawa’s south side announced Tuesday that it was bought by R.P. Lumber.

The business opened in 1991 on Fosse Road and has served the area for 33 years.

“We are confident that R.P. will provide the same level of professional care and service to our customers,” the Pike family wrote in a post on Golden Rule’s Facebook page. “We appreciate our dedicated staff for their service and our loyal contractors and customers for supporting our small business.”

R.P. Lumber has more than 80 locations throughout Illinois, Missouri, Wyoming, Iowa and Wisconsin, including locally with one already in Ottawa, as well as Streator, Mendota, Princeton, Pontiac and Lacon.

R.P. Lumber Co. Inc. confirmed its acquisition Wednesday of Golden Rule Lumber, a family-owned retailer of hardware, building and landscaping materials, and rental equipment.

The transaction was set to close Wednesday, with the terms of the deal remaining undisclosed, R.P. Lumber said in a news release.

Already operating a retail location in Ottawa, R.P. Lumber aims to extend its service across a wider swath of La Salle County and its neighboring communities by merging the two locations, the company said in a news release.

“Paul Pike isn’t just the owner of Golden Rule Lumber,” said Robert L. Plummer, president and CEO of R.P. Lumber. “He’s been an advocate for Ottawa’s growth and development, deeply ingrained in the fabric of La Salle County as a community pillar.

“We’ve had a location in Ottawa since 2014, so we’ve always considered Golden Rule Lumber a friendly competitor. Their family values and sun-up-to-sun-down work ethic are identical to ours, and we’re excited to expand our team and services not only in Ottawa, but also at other R.P. Lumber locations in the region.”