Empire Building Materials Opens 100,000-Square-Foot Butte Warehouse

Empire Building Materials opened a warehouse in Butte's Montana Connections Industrial Park, a 44-acre property with 100,000 square feet of warehouse space and 22 employees, the company said. EIN Presswire reported the opening. The Montana-based distributor has operated in the state for 70 years and ships building materials to customers in six states.

Empire Building Materials' Butte Warehouse Details

Butte-Silver Bow hosted a ribbon-cutting for the Butte facility on Wednesday that has been in operation for more than a year. The operation ships about 1.8 million pounds of building material a week during the summer.

Empire Building Materials General Manager Jacob Housman said the company chose the industrial park for its access to both Interstate 90 and 15. "We have the rail yards so we can bring in materials. There are four truckloads on a railcar, so that allows us to bring a lot of volume in," Housman said.

Housman said he was born in Butte and raised in Whitehall, and that all of the company's employees work in Montana. "I mean, it's busy. We're all going 100 miles an hour, and it's great, but also it's great, it's exactly what we're here for, and it's exactly what we want," he said.

Butte Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher said, "Their success here reinforces the message that Butte is a place where businesses can thrive, expand, and innovate."

Empire recently moved its Bozeman yard to its headquarters in Belgrade and also has a location in Missoula. The company's operations run from Laurel to Missoula along I-90.

Winsupply, MKM and Shoemaker Expansion Moves

Winsupply appointed Ken Resuta as regional development manager on October 15, 2026, to develop a Greater Philadelphia expansion model, Modern Distribution Management reported. The hire brings a 35-year Ferguson veteran to establish independent local companies serving contractors. Winsupply reported $8.4 billion in sales for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026, and plans to add 1.6 million square feet of distribution capacity.

MKM Building Supplies appointed Gordons on October 7, 2026, to support its UK expansion, including the acquisition of a builders' merchant site in New Milton, Insidermedia reported. MKM's revenue rose 12% to £1.1 billion for the year ended 30 September 2025, and it has opened eight new branches in 2026.

Shoemaker Drywall Supplies opened a second Winnipeg location at 15 Scurfield Boulevard on October 5, 2026, the Financial Post reported. The facility serves contractors, roofing, renovation, and DIY customers with products like steel framing, insulation, drywall, and roofing.

What Comes Next for the Butte Site

The Butte facility has been in operation for more than a year, and the ribbon-cutting was held on Wednesday. Empire Building Materials operates locations in Belgrade, Missoula and Butte.