BROKEN BOW – A red ribbon was strung and cut inside new-look Mead Lumber location in Broken Bow on Tuesday morning. A renovation that saw changes to the outside and inside of the building was celebrated with a Grow Award presentation from the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce.
Store Manager Dan Campbell, who joined Mead Lumber at the end of 2010, said this was the first remodel project that had been done since 2011. This one, started in May 2023 and wrapped up in February of this year, remodeled a lot more space.
“Every square foot of the retail space. The only room that was not touched was our back stock room which is that little room right there. Everything else in this facility got touched. Oh, and our mechanical room where the furnace and hot water heater is,” said Campbell.
Campbell said that from the outside, the public might have the perception that a lot more square footage was added to the building’s footprint, but he confirmed that the vestibule on the front was the only addition. The staff is already appreciating the efficiency and the presence of fewer slamming doors as a result.
In addition to outdoor work that included paint and stone accents, several changes were made inside including new flooring, paint from floor to ceiling, and a rearrangement. The customer help desk area is now immediately to the left after entering the front doors. The window, cabinetry, and other home accessory showroom is to the right. The back half of the retail space now has aisles running north and south rather than east and west. The hardware room in the back now utilizes a tall shelving system holding an expanded capacity.
Campbell said the project was talked about for about three years before getting started, and in addition to getting the space up-to-date, Mead Lumber wanted to show their appreciation to the community.
“We wanted to show to the community that we are all in and we value the community’s support. The community is real supportive of us. We wanted to show our gratitude,” explained Campbell.
The remodel timing worked out well in the end, with the Broken Bow location becoming the first of more than 50 locations to sport the new-look Mead Lumber branding. Do-it-yourselfers and contractors alike are invited through the doors to check out the changes and do business with Mead Lumber Monday through Friday 7:30a to 5:30p and Saturday from 8a to noon.
