A Century of Building a Legacy

Story by Betsy O’Leary | Photos by Johnny Chauvin

You would be hard-pressed to find many family-owned and operated businesses here in Tangipahoa Parish that have continuously served the public for nearly a century. However, one that stands out is Gabriel Building Supply Company.

Bob Gabriel’s grandfather, Harry J. Gabriel, Sr., founded Gabriel Building Supply in 1926 as a millwork supply store, selling sand and bricks as well as building doors and windows for their customers. In the mid-1950s, Harry Sr.’s son and Bob’s father, Harry J. Gabriel, Jr., took over the day-to-day management of Gabriel Building Supply. Then, in 1973, Bob joined the team, making it a three-generation business.

A TIME FOR EXPANSION

In the early 90s, they realized that the store needed to grow to handle the needs of the public. In 1992, a new storefront was built at 510 West Pine in Ponchatoula. The store includes over four acres of covered storage for lumber and building supplies.

While the Ponchatoula location remains their flagship store, the family sensed a need for a second location in the northern end of the parish. They completed construction on their Amite location at 900 West Oak Street in 2013 to meet that demand. Both locations offer the same full-service care and quality products that their customers have come to expect.

A FOURTH GENERATION

Bob’s two daughters, Jasmin Wild and Devin Gabriel, followed in their father's footsteps by joining the family business. In early 2024, both became part owners, allowing Bob to step back from the day-to-day operations. With a smile and a shrug of his shoulders, Bob commented, “I have been working here for 51 years; it’s time I step back a little and let them do their thing.” To that end, the new generation has turned their focus to the technological end of the business by building a new website for Gabriel’s and rebranding the logo. Bob joked that although they had successfully changed the uniform from blue to grey, he held firm on the fire engine red for the Gabriel trucks!

The family works well by dividing the responsibilities of running the large business. Jasmin prefers to work on IT projects while overseeing the bookkeeping, finances, and accounts payable departments. Devin manages the inventory for both locations and is involved with purchasing, advertising, marketing, and accounts receivable. Bob stays busy buying all the commodities necessary for construction, such as lumber, sheetrock, insulation, and plywood. Bob hopes his daughters will continue to run the family business and eventually pass it along to their children.

ONE BIG FAMILY

The Gabriels stress that they could not have come so far without their crew of longtime employees like Chase Wainwright, who serves as the General Manager of both facilities. When it opened, Chase began running the Amite store and was eventually asked to oversee operations at both locations, which showed successful growth under his leadership. The family credits their dedicated staff with that success, noting that many of their employees retire from Gabriel’s and that most workers wind up there for the long haul.

BUILT ON A STRONG FOUNDATION

For nearly 100 years, Gabriel’s Building Supply has served the community with honesty and integrity. They have remained successful by offering items such as an extensive paint selection, the latest in outdoor cooking, and even expert advice in helping to decide what each project needs. It is safe to say that the Gabriel family knows a thing or two when building a family legacy. Whether you have a weekend DIY project or are a contractor needing lumber for a large build, Gabriels will greet you with a smile when you walk through the door and a heartfelt “thank you” when you leave. The family invites you to stop by and browse today or shop from the convenience of your home at gabrielbuildingsupply.com.