Building supplies store in Yarrow makes difficult decision to close, citing economic conditions

YARROW (CHILLIWACK) – A building supplies store in Yarrow has made the difficult decision to close its retail outfit and consolidate its operations at a branch in Langley, citing challenging economic conditions.

Brian Louwerse confirmed to Fraser Valley Today in an email this past week that West Central (Yarrow) Building Supplies, located at 41924 Yarrow Central Road, will close towards the end of November.

“Many businesses in the construction industry are currently experiencing challenges, and we were not immune to these,” Louwerse said. “New housing starts are down, and the Fraser Valley economy is now seeing the effects of a struggling construction industry. Any consumer can relate to how their money doesn’t seem to go as far as it used to, and retailers are feeling the strain with less overall consumer spending. A trend shift to online shopping for certain goods changed what had previously worked for a successful ‘brick and mortar’ store.”

One of the buildings containing inventory at West Central Building Supplies. (Image Credit: Realtor.ca.)

Louwerse says in spring 2026, the company’s forecast concluded that it had to make changes. The company implemented many of those changes throughout the business during 2026, prior to the decision to consolidate.

“We made much progress, but it clearly wasn’t enough to sustain two branches in the current BC market for the next 24 months,” Louwerse said. “No single event, policy, or person can nor should be blamed for this. It’s a combination of many internal and external factors, mutually agreed upon by the ownership group after careful consideration. This is why we chose to consolidate our operations into one branch. This allowed us to bring our staff, inventory and resources together, so we could become more efficient and sustainable while maintaining our commitment to serving customers throughout the Fraser Valley. The world is changing fast, business is changing fast. We are adapting to serve customers who depend on good service and a supplier who’s committed to their success.”

Louwerse says management and ownership did everything they could to try to keep the store viable in Yarrow, before concluding that a change had to be made.

“Management and ownership did not make this decision lightly. Every option was on the table to keep the Yarrow branch open, a lot of sleepless nights and extra effort leading up to the final decision,” Louwerse said. “This is hard, but we are keeping staff morale high despite this closure. There are also some positive benefits through a donation of usable inventory to Adult and Teen Challenge to help finance their program needs and facilitate upcoming projects (stay tuned). This is overall difficult news for the people of Yarrow; many customers are very sad to see us go. It is also hard for them to see another small business disappear; this reinforces the need to support your local small businesses. To soften the blow we are selling our inventory at our cost and offering our customers a great deal to make their hard-earned dollars go further.”

A lumber and hardware store has always operated at this Yarrow location since Sumas Lake was drained, Louwerse said. It’s had a number of different ownerships and names like Yarrow Lumber, Pioneer Building Supplies, Yarrow Building Supplies, Dryco, Allenby’s, Yarrow General Store, Yarrow Building Supplies and West Central.

The front of West Central Building Supplies. (Image Credit: Realtor.ca.)

In a letter published to Facebook in October, West Central Building Supplies kindly advised the community that the company’s location would change, but its commitment to Chilliwack would not.

The property of West Central Building Supplies is pictured. (Image Credit: Realtor.ca.)

“We will continue serving Yarrow, Chilliwack and the surrounding communities through direct job-site delivery from Langley,” the letter stated. “Art Louwerse will remain your sales contact, providing the familiar service, product knowledge, and personal attention you have come to rely on. We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible and continuing to earn your business through reliable service, clear communication, and a genuine understanding of your needs.”

The letter went on to thank Yarrow residents, City of Chilliwack staff and municipal councillors who continually supported the business as its business and land development evolved.

Louwerse says the company has taken responsible action to help any affected employees find new employment with its suppliers and customers, noting that two employees will continue with the Langley branch, while Art Louwerse and Kim will continue serving Chilliwack through West Central Building Supplies’ delivery service.

The property at 41924 Yarrow Central Road has been listed for sale for approximately 19 days, as of Monday morning, Nov. 9. The high-exposure commercial property is situated on 1.4 acres in Yarrow with a mix of retail, warehouse, covered storage, and a storage yard. It’s currently zoned CS1, service commercial, and contains over 4,500 square feet of storefront retail space and a mezzanine above, almost 11,000 square feet of warehouse space over four bays, 2,000 square feet of coverage stored, and 38,000 square feet of yard space.

“There are a few interested parties, but no sale has been finalized,” Brian Louwerse said. “The site is zoned for commercial use and could suit various types of businesses. The City of Chilliwack is willing to work with a potential buyer to keep jobs in Chilliwack. With proper financial backing, there is an opportunity for a business to be profitable in Yarrow. A potential buyer could even successfully operate the hardware store if an existing primary business needed the yard for other purposes (e.g., building materials, equipment sales, tool rental, ect). The land ownership group will entertain offers for sale or lease through their realtor Darren Leffers.”

Through Louwerse, the company thanked the community for their continued support and loyalty.

“Thank you for the trust you have placed in West Central (including previous businesses) over the years,” Louwerse said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support your businesses and projects. Above all we value the relationships we have built through the good and hard times along the way. ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).’”