Our Montana Story
80 years of building alongside our neighbors, from Glacier Country to the Bitterroot Valley
Our Story
Western Building Center has been helping Montana families and contractors build their dreams since 1946. What started as a cabinet and millwork shop in Kalispell has grown into a family of 13 locations across Montana and Idaho, but our commitment to personal service, expert advice, and quality materials has never changed.
As a proud member of the Do it Best dealer network, we combine the buying power of a national cooperative with the local knowledge and personal attention that only a locally owned business can provide. Every one of our stores is staffed by people who live and work in the communities they serve.
Read Our Full HistoryOur Mission
To offer quality products, at competitive pricing, with world-class service.
Our Milestones
The Beginning
Les Kjos establishes Western Woodwork, a cabinet and millwork shop in Kalispell, Montana. It is the foundation of what would become Western Building Center.
Flathead Valley Growth
The company buys Columbia Falls Lumber in 1972 and Lindsey Lumber Co. of Whitefish in 1975, when the stores merge under the name Western Building Center. Eureka follows in 1976.
Across Montana
Western Building Center adds Libby in 1997, Polson and Ronan in 2000, and Stevensville in 2010, bringing building supply service to communities across western Montana.
Building Components
Western builds the WBC Truss and Building Components plant in Columbia Falls, and completes a new truss plant there in 2014.
Great Falls
Western Building Center acquires Johnson Madison Lumber (JM Lumber) in Great Falls, a lumber business started in 1923, keeping its name and its team.
13 Locations Strong
13 locations across Montana and Idaho, including WBC retail stores, JM Lumber in Great Falls, and Pro X Home Center in Bonners Ferry, plus a building components plant and equipment rental centers. Western Building Center is a member of the Do it Best dealer cooperative, combining national buying power with locally owned, personal service.
Our Values
Community First
We sponsor local events, support youth programs, and invest in the towns where our employees and customers live.
Expert Service
Our team members are builders, craftsmen, and project veterans. When you have a question, you get a real answer, not a guess.
Quality Products
We carry brands that stand up to Montana's extreme weather. From Marvin windows to LP siding, every product earns its place on our shelves.
Contractor Trusted
Competitive pricing, reliable delivery, and takeoff services that keep your projects on schedule and on budget.
Built for Our Communities
Every Western Building Center employee lives in the community they serve. Our team members are not just retail staff. They are builders, craftsmen, and project veterans who bring decades of combined experience to every customer interaction.
From the contractor desk to the lumber yard, you will find people who understand building in Montana and Idaho because they do it themselves. That is a level of expertise that no national chain can match.
Ready to Start Your Project?
Visit your nearest Western Building Center or contact us for expert advice.