Stock+Field will remain in Streator at Northpoint Plaza

Store purchased by R.P. Lumber subsidiary

The Stock+Field at Northpoint Plaza in Streator will reopen under new management in April.

R.P. Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of R.P. Lumber, announced its acquisition of Stock+Field’s assets.

The stores will keep the Stock+Field name and the new owners will continue to operate in the farm and ranch space, providing the same products and services they have provided.

The news owners said they will seek input from employees and the communities they serve as they plan for the future of the store’s brand.

Based in Edwardsville, R.P. Lumber is a family-owned retailer that operates 72 full-service hardware and building material stores throughout Illinois, Missouri, Wyoming and Iowa. The company was founded in 1977 by CEO Robert L. Plummer in Staunton.

In January 2021, Stock+Field filed for bankruptcy and announced plans to close all of 25 its stores and the business has been in the process of liquidating its assets.

Retailers, such as Stock+Field, provide many jobs and are often one of the top contributors of tax revenue in local communities. In Streator, officials made an effort to recruit an agricultural retail store prior to Big R opening. The store since changed its name to Stock+Field.

Utilizing TIF funds, the city of Streator also pitched in to pave the parking lot at Northpoint Plaza near the Stock+Field.

“Our focus right now is on keeping Stock+Field stores open and serving the many communities they have served for years and, in some instances, decades,” said Robert L. Plummer, Chairman of R.P. Acquisition Corporation.

“The Stock+Field teams at each store are personally connected to their customers and their communities, and we see tremendous value in maintaining and strengthening those bonds. Many great R.P. Lumber team members have worked and continue working hard every day to build a strong reputation in the communities where we operate. We intend to bring the same culture and community mindset to Stock+Field.”

The store’s ownership intends on maintaining existing jobs, they said.

“These stores have a decades-long tradition as part of the fabric of the community,” said Jason Plummer, President of R.P. Acquisition Corporation. “We love the farm and ranch space but, perhaps even more importantly, we saw this as an opportunity to invest in rural America, contribute to the growth of these great communities, and help keep many good, hard-working people employed.”

The Times is committed to keeping readers up to date with business happenings in the area. This can include the opening of new businesses and businesses that are closing. Much of our reporting relies on what we see and hear, but we’re also reaching out to readers for tips on business items. If you have a tip to share, email Derek Barichello at dbarichello@shawmedia.com