Our History

Celebrating our 104rd year serving our communities, Big C Lumber is in its eleventh decade of existence and is a fourth-generation family-owned company. Serving do-it-yourselfers/homeowners, professional home builders and remodelers, and commercial contractors, Big C Lumber was started in 1921 by William Hass - who in partnership with George Bales purchased a lumberyard in North Liberty, Indiana. Acquisition of approximately ten additional lumberyards quickly followed, including the present yards in Roseland (South Bend) Indiana, and Three Oaks, Michigan. In 1926 these yards were incorporated and a few years later, circa 1935, William Hass acquired George Bales' interests. The period from 1935 to 1945 was one of diversification during which time Hass Wholesale, Hass Concrete, and Portage Realty were founded. Shortly thereafter a long process of consolidation began, lasting through 1981, involving the liquidation, sale, or divesting of interest in most of the lumberyards and other various holdings.

Following the death of William Hass in 1956, sons Ralph and Paul, daughter Gladys, and her husband William Foley took over the ownership and management control of the businesses. This lasted until 1968 when the businesses were spun off into three separate organizations with Ralph Hass taking over Hass Wholesale and Hass Concrete, Paul Hass taking over Portage Realty, and the Foleys taking over the Big C yards. Shortly thereafter Roger and Tom Foley, sons of William and Gladys, joined the Big C organization. In 1982 Roger Foley took over the management and controlling interest. The name Big C Cashway, later shortened to Big C, was coined in 1967 and applied to four lumberyards, two of which were liquidated in 1981. Big C Lumber Co. Inc. became the official corporate name in 1984.

Beginning in 1985, the company embarked on an acquisition program. There are now a total of 16 Big C Lumber retail lumberyards. In addition to the original lumberyards in Roseland (South Bend) Indiana, and Three Oaks, Michigan, there are eight other Indiana locations: Granger, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Cromwell, LaPorte, Shipshewana, Kendallville, and Fort Wayne. In addition to Three Oaks, we have five other locations in Michigan: Eau Claire, Schoolcraft, Coloma, Adrian. and Delton. In February of 2012, we opened our first Ohio lumber yard in the town of Edgerton. Big C Lumber also operates three manufacturing facilities; a Structural Building Components Facility which designs and manufactures floor trusses, wall panels, and roof trusses; a full-service Custom Millwork & Cabinet Facility, and a Window & Door Facility. The Granger facility, which houses the administrative offices, focuses on professional contractors but also welcomes do-it-yourselfers. This location also serves as a distribution center for the other lumber yards.

Present management includes Roger Foley, Chairman Emeritus, Bill Wallace, President & CEO, Bridget Brady, CFO & Co-Chairman, Nick Brady, Co-Chairman, Bill Kuminecz, Vice President of Purchasing, Ben Chambers, Vice President of Operations - Eastern Region, and Scott Foley, Vice President of Operations - Western Region.