Historical Improvements

Dealer updates with a nod to the past

f fILLS Flat Lumber's new store in IIGrass Vallev. Ca.. has a stone facade that refleits the area's Gold Rush past. But inside are state-of-theart improvements that will help the 86-year-old business compete with big boxes down the road.

The company's old Grass Valley store closed Sunday, April 15. At 6:30 the next morning, business got underway at the new, improved store.

Costing $10-15 million, the new structure has 30,500 sq. ft. of retail space, including a dedicated area for contractors and developers.

Another 14,4OO sq. ft. is devoted to offices, with 18900 sq. ft. of lumber storage at the back of the buildingcomplete with the latest automatic stacking equipment. Outside are two more storage buildings with automatic stacking technology, covered to keep the lumber out of the weather.

The goal of the new location was to have everything needed to build a house, at a single location. "You know what it boils down to is how few stops you have to make," said Jeff Pardini, who runs the 86-year-old family business with his brothers Kennan and Jason and brother-in-law Dave Caddy.

Other improvements include a I,000-sq. ft. coffee bar and cafewhich opened May l-that is located next to the 10,000-sq. ft. outdoor nursery.

"It's all about saving time and money," said Jeff. "Now our contractors don't have to stop one place for coffee and something to eat, and another for materials."

During the approval process, planning officials praised the new store's "historic and beautiful" design and its concern for the environment. To com- plement thc old-rnir.re design ancl conserve wirtcr. onl\' native lanclscaping was installccl. With the help of local cnvironr.nentalrsts. Jcfl' Parclini also rcstorccl a Sierra rret nrcuclon on thc propL'rt)'. ln thc 19.50s. thc clclcl Par.dini solcl thc rrrills und opcncrl lr stolc thal ol'f'crcd lcntal cquipnrcnt antl solcl hurclwurc uncl bLrilrling ruutcriuls. no. I'r'c bccrt rn'orking thcrc sincc I Iror now. thc lirrlily'hls no pluns to uus -1 \'cuts olrl.'" said .lcl'l'Purclini. "ll scll thc olcl tlills Flat propcrtr'. "Hcck \\c cillr. uc'rc soitts 1rt ltatts onto it."

Innovltions such as groirnrl soLlrcc qcothcrnral hcating. high cl l'icicncl' lighting. irnd skr'lights lLrc crpcctctl to cut utility' costs ncar'lr' 50','i Thc tunrily ulso nruv install u solar l)o\\'cr svstcnr. alr-carll in r.tsc at tlrc corlpltnr''s scconcl stolc irt Coll'ax.

"lt's rcallv inrpoltunt lirr- busincss es Io l00k irl ltlle t'ttrrtirr'\'tl('tr]\ sourccs.' saicl Jeff. "Thcv nrat cost a little nrore upflont. but thcl save ener-gv and nroncr'. It makcs linancial scnsc ancl it's goocl for the cnr ilunmcnt."

When Jeff's -rlanclfather. Eduard J. Pardini Sr.. started \\'orkins at a local sau'mill. -golcl minirtg \\'as still common in thc arca. In 1921. he and his partncr boLrght thc sari nrrll und soon uclclccl t\\o nrofc mills. to supply tin'rbcr lil' thc nrir.tcs. honre construction. ancl thc bLrilding of flunics thut hrrrtrlltt \\irl('r' lo lltr' Lnrri rttL rtt'err.