Frontier Building Supply announced it is opening a Coupeville location and wants the community’s help in designing a store that residents will want.

The lumberyard signed lease paperwork Friday morning with Ken Hofkamp, who just purchased the former ProBuild and Lumbermen’s lumberyard on Terry Road.

The location, behind Hofkamp’s Prairie Center Red Apple grocery store, has been vacant for several years.

The new store is slated for a January opening.

“We made an attempt about three years ago when ProBuild went out,” said Chuck Posey, general manager for Frontier. But at that time the lumber business declined an offer to take over its lease.

Posey said they’ve wanted to tap the Central Whidbey market for a while and that opportunity came to fruition several weeks ago.

After purchasing the site, Hofkamp contacted Frontier through the Island County Economic Development Council about leasing the property.

“We’ve been really pleased with the response we’ve gotten from the community groups we’ve met with,” Posey said.

Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard said she’s had several meetings with the principals involved in bringing the new business to town.

“Oh, it’s just great,” said Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard. “I’m just thrilled. It’s a vote of confidence when a business wants to invest in our community.”

Community involvement

One aspect Conard said she’s particularly impressed with is that Frontier wants to get the community involved.

Frontier, an Anacortes-based company, has locations throughout Skagit and Island counties, including Whidbey locations in Oak Harbor and Freeland.

“New construction is our bread and butter,” Posey said. “But we’ve always worked well in the retail environment.”

Frontier, which operates four lumberyards and one millwork location, is looking to expand its Coupeville location into a store where residents can find hardware and some farm supplies.

The business has customers in Central Whidbey already and supplies builders from its North and South Whidbey locations.

Posey said the company will still continue to do that but sees Coupeville as a location builders can get additional supplies.

“It will be much quicker and much more convenient,” he said.

Posey is hoping to build the store’s offerings based on what the community wants.

“Because we have a clean slate we can ask, “What does Coupeville want?” he said. “What does Coupeville need?”

He’s started a special email contact just for community suggestions.

So for those residents who don’t want to travel north or south for their chicken feed, email Posey with the suggestion.

“Even tell us the brand,” Posey said. “We have very good connections where we buy our whole goods.”

Getting ready

Workers are just getting into the building, which has been closed up for about three years, to start cleaning it up.

Posey said it will get a bit of a facelift with new paint, necessary electrical work and repairs to shelving and displays.

Coincidently, Frontier’s colors are yellow and green, similar to what the building is already painted. But Posey said company officials are unsure if they want to keep the traditional colors with this new location.

“We are pleased to have Frontier in Coupeville,” said Lynda Eccles, executive director for the Coupeville Chamber of Commerce. “I think it will be great for farmers and contractors as well as small business owners and the community, all of whom have to make that extra journey for the types of products Frontier provides. This is a positive addition to our community and we look forward to a positive working relationship.”

Bringing jobs

And while preparation of the site is underway, Frontier will also be searching for six to eight employees to run the Coupeville store.

The difference between Frontier and other “hardware” stores, Posey said, is that Frontier doesn’t employ cashiers.

“The people you deal with in our stores have professional knowledge (of the building industry),” he said. “We’re not really looking for someone who wants to be a cashier.”

You don’t necessarily have to have a complete understanding of the industry to apply, he said.

Posey said they may consider hiring someone with sharp skills that the company can invest in for a long-term career with the company.

“We’re independent and we like to chart our own course,” Posey said. “We’re not a corporate giant. We’re a locally owned company. We want to be a part of the community.”

To contact Posey with inventory ideas, email coupeville@FBS.us.