Home Depot May Acquire Yardbirds

Yardbirds Home Center, Petaluma, Ca., reportedly is negotiating the sale of its 10 stores in the East Bay and Solano County to Home Depot.

Yardbirds operates stores in San Pablo, Alamo, Petaluma, Concord, Rohnert Park, Vallejo, Vacaville, San Rafael, and superstores in Santa Rosa and Martinez, Ca., with combined sales of $185 million in2004.

The chain was founded in 1975 in Santa Rosa by John Headley, now '72. Ironically, Yardbirds has spent more than a decade fighting to keep Home Depot and Lowe's out of Sonoma County.

Home Depot would not confirm the acquisition nor the fate of individual Yardbirds stores if the sale went through.

Ever since Home Depot's acquisition six months ago of its first pro dealer chain-Atlanta's Williams Brothers, several industry insiders have speculated that their next target misht be in California.

Riley Creek Adding Wholesale Office

Riley Creek, Laclede, Id., is opening a sales office early next year in Denver, Co.

The new wholesale office moves Riley Creek further into the distribution stream of building products, including its own lumber, according to company officials. Erol Deren, Arnie Didier and Ken Koenig will handle sales.

The company's mill-direct sales office in Sandpoint, Id., will continue operations.

Riley Creek was founded by Marc Brinkmeyer in 1981, when he purchased the Laclede sawmill from Brand-S Corp. The company has grown to become the largest lumber producer in ldaho, with more than 600 million bd. ft. of kiln-dried lumber annually from mills in Laclede, Sandpoint and Chilco, Id.

Weyco Selling Panel Mills

Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wa., has put its composite panels

business up for sale-hoping

to reduce debt and improve shareholder return.

The company said the division has been a strong performer, but is a small component of is overall wood products business. The mills, which produce either medium density fiberboard or particleboard, are in Albany and Eugene, Or.; Bennettsville, S.C.l Malvern, Ar.; Simsboro, La., and Clonmel. Ireland.

"As part of our ongoing portfolio review, we have determined that the composite panels business is not a strategic fit for Weyerhaeuser," said Steven R. Rogel, chairman, president and c.e.o. "We believe that the skilled employees at these highly competitive and efficientmills will provide greater value for a new owner who is more focused on this line of business products."

Weyerhaeuser will continue to operate the composite panels mills while it seeks new ownership. The North American mills have the capacity to produce a total of 1.1 billion sq. ft. annually, while the Clonmel mill has a capacity of 230 million sq. ft. Combined, the facilities employ about 1.000 workers.