By SARA FURLONG

s.furlong@bradfordera.com

Close’s Lumber Co. has been in business for more than half a century, first with its original store in Roulette and then with a second location, in Olean, N.Y.

Bradford is set to host its third location, at the former Bisett Building Center at 148 Davis St., although no date has been set for its opening.

‘Sometime this year, probably late summer or early fall,’ said owner Mike Close. ‘We’ve been looking to expand. Once Bisett’s went out — we do a lot of business in Bradford to start with, so it was a good fit.’ Close, who owns the business along with his sister and brother-in-law, Val and Keith Cousins, explained Close’s has actually owned the former Bisett site for almost two years. ‘We’ve owned the place for going on two years,’ Close stated. ‘We were just in no hurry to do anything with it at the

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Close’s Lumber Co., with locations in Roulette and Olean, N.Y., aims to open its third location, in the former Bisett Building Center, 148 Davis St. in Bradford, later this year.

Era photo by Sara Furlong time. They just started over the winter moving forward.”

Bradford Mayor Tom Riel said, “City Council is excited to have Close’s Lumber opening up in the former Bisett location. A full service lumberyard is much needed in the Bradford area and we look forward to it opening. We welcome them to Bradford.” In September 2021, Bisett Building Center was sold to Clarionbased M and B Group, parent company of DuBrook, which operates the ready-mix concrete plant at the former Bisett location, and M and B Services.

M and B will continue to operate the concrete portion of Bisett’s former business, specializing in large-scale commercial and industrial concrete projects; stamped and colorful concrete; and exposed aggregate and traditional concrete finishes for sidewalks, patios and driveways.

Close’s Lumber Co. purchased all other aspects of Bisett’s business — hardware, lumber and building supplies — and Close said they intend to keep “everything pretty much the same.”

“We made a lot of updates, redid the hardware store and have been putting up some new buildings and things like that,” Close noted. “It’s been a lot of work.”

Bisett’s former rentals business is the only aspect Close’s doesn’t intend to take up. Close said he estimates the store will add as many as eight jobs.

Find more information on closeslumber. com.