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In June 2023, Smith Lumber Company in Valley City, North Dakota, celebrated a century of service to the community.
To celebrate, the store hosted a community event that included a vendor cook-off, live entertainment and savings opportunities for customers. For the cook-off, customers could purchase $5 tickets that allowed them to sample all the dishes and vote for their favorite. All proceeds benefited Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals and Barnes Country Food Pantry. Big Hammer Music Entertainment and Greg Hager provided live entertainment during the event.
“We were humbled by the impressive turnout throughout that week,” says owner Tim Durheim. “We sincerely appreciate everyone who came to show their support and celebrate 100 years with us.”
The business dates back to 1923 when Ben Grotte opened a distribution business downtown to serve the area’s coal needs. By the early 1950s, Grotte had sold the business to Jake Smith, who operated Smith Lumber Company until the mid 1960s when he sold it to the Wright family.
The Wright Family ushered the business through its first evolution into a dedicated lumber and building material supplier, catering to pro contractors. In 2014, Durheim purchased Smith Lumber Company and grew the business to include hardware and home improvement supplies, rental tools and equipment, live plants and gardening supplies and more.
Momentum from this second evolution steadily increased, and Durheim and the team completed an 11,000-square-foot expansion project in March 2022, allowing them to add retail items like work clothes, farm and ranch supplies, kitchen and plumbing supplies, housewares and toys and games. Today, Smith Lumber Company serves pro contractors and DIYers alike with a one-stop shopping experience.
“I’m energized by our continued growth, and I look forward to serving the Valley City community for years to come,” Durheim says.
