Company History
In 1959, John Menard, Jr., began building post-frame buildings to finance his college education. By 1959, Menard found it necessary to hire extra crews, and to purchase more equipment to keep up with demand. After graduating from college in 1962, Menard purchased land in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and built an office and shop. Menards was founded at this time in 1962. When post-frame building customers often inquired about the possibility of purchasing lumber and other products, Menard opened the first Menards Cashway Lumber.
In 1969, Menard began adding manufacturing plants at the Eau Claire site. These plants included facilities for making trusses, treated lumber, boards, pre-hung doors, steel and nails. A distribution center was also added.
In 1972, Menard opened his first hardware store.
On July 15, 1980, Menards' headquarters in Eau Claire was seriously damaged by the Western Wisconsin Derecho.
In 1994, Menards sold the post-frame building division.
In 1998, Menards opened a second distribution center in Plano, Illinois.
In 2005, Menards created an eCommerce website called Menards Online Collections.
In 2007, Menards opened their third and fourth distribution centers in Holiday City, Ohio, and Shelby, Iowa. The Holiday City, Ohio, complex is 669,000 square feet (62,200 m2) and the Shelby, Iowa, complex is 735,000 square feet (68,300 m2).
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