At a time when building supply superstores are proliferating, and large lumber companies are being gobbled up by even larger ones, Meredith & Sons has thrived by creating its own unique niche in northwest Florida's building supply market. "We've earned a reputation for being able to provide specialty or hard-to-find items, like old-fashioned drop sidings and oak flooring. Customers say, 'If you can't find it at Meredith's, it probably isn't in Pensacola.' And, if we don't have it in stock, we can special order it. It's seldom that we can't find what you're looking for." Now with the addition of a complete array of marine building products and technologically advanced materials, they are entering a new era of service to the Gulf Coast ... an era that is being ushered in by the third generation of Merediths to run Meredith & Sons Lumber Company!

Meredith Lumber was begun as a Mom-and-Pop operation in the backyard of Franklin and Voncile Meredith's home in Ensley. Frank, a carpenter with a construction company, was given the unwanted scrap wood to take home for use in his own woodcraft projects. Over time, friends and neighbors would come to him for scrap wood for their small repair jobs, rather than make the long trip to a lumber yard. Soon, Frank was heading out before dawn to lumber mills in Brewton or Flomaton, loading his truck and bringing it home to north Pensacola, where Voncile was "minding the store." That was in 1953, and Meredith & Sons still occupies that site ... but it has grown to more than six acres.

Frank and Voncile's only son, Derwood, took over running the business in 1961, and continued the policy of personable service that characterizes a trip to Meredith's. No need to wander the aisles in search of an item you know must exist somewhere, even if you aren't sure what it's called - just ask. The people at Meredith's are knowledgeable and courteous!

In the mid-'80s, the name was changed to Meredith & Sons, reflecting the contributions of grandsons, Dean, Daniel and Dennis Meredith. Although Derwood is still president of the company, he turned over daily operations to his sons a few years after opening the company's Gulf Breeze store in 1986. Dean is vice president and general manager. Daniel and Dennis manage the Gulf Breeze location.

Business at both stores has been booming, due in part to Meredith's emphasis on providing their Gulf Breeze, as well as Pensacola, customers with the latest and best products on the market. "We believe that there is a tremendous future for modern, alternative products that are attractive and ecologically friendly, and that feature low maintenance."

Both store locations carry a complete line of building supplies, from foundation to roof, and a full line of builder's hardware. Whether you are looking for dock ladders or boat lift supplies, innovative building products, or trying to match 50-year-old siding, if it has to do with building, try Meredith & Sons. You'll understand why this is one family business that is here to stay!