> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Fisher Lumber rebuilds from ground up - URL: https://www.smdp.com/fisher-lumber-rebuilds-from-ground-up/ - Published: 2005-12-30T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T08:27:05.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Business, Santa Monica, #archive-import *For more than 80 years, Fisher Lumber filled a niche, and it still will with new store* *By FABIAN LEWKOWICZ Special to the Daily Press* For eight decades, Fisher Lumber & Hardware built up its reputation as the premiere place to buy construction supplies in Santa Monica. That legacy was torn down earlier this year when Fisher closed its doors. But now, one of the oldest businesses in Santa Monica has rebuilt itself. Eric Jorgensborg, the former general manager of Fisher Lumber & Hardware, re-opened the business last month at a new location, 1600 Lincoln Blvd., and under a new but similar name — Fisher Hardware & Lumber. Although it’s now a much smaller operation, Fisher is still serving a niche for contractors and builders — it remains the only lumberyard in Santa Monica. Jorgensborg, sole owner of Fisher Hardware & Lumber, said he had been eyeing properties ever since the 82-year-old business was forced to close its doors to customers in February. Knowing that there was a niche to fill, Jorgensborg had real estate agents scour the city, looking for a new location. He was able to secure a long-term lease at his father-in-law’s building, which used to house Earl Scheib Body and Paint Shop. Jorgensborg is the son-in-law of Bob Sievers, who owned the old Fisher Lumber until 1980 when he sold it to Weyerhaeuser Co., a national lumber company. Fisher Hardware & Lumber reopened on Nov. 21, just six months after closing. Scheib’s lease had expired and the owners didn’t want to re-sign it at a higher rent price, presenting Jorgensborg with an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Jorgensborg declined to say what the price of his new rent is or how long the lease is. “It wasn’t easy to find this space,” Jorgensborg said. “There was a few large spaces on Olympic Boulevard, but they are not zoned for retail business.” Fisher Lumber & Hardware had served generations of Santa Monicans since 1923 when John W. Fisher opened at the original location on 14th Street and Colorado Avenue. Fisher never owned the property his hardware store was built on — he rented it from the railroads. The business was sold to Tom Fox, namesake of the development north of San Vicente Boulevard and later to Sievers, who sold it to Weyerhaeuser Co. Weyerhaeuser bought the land from the railroads in 1994 and about three years ago sold it off to developer K.C. Riverstone Ltd. Then City Hall took over and bought the property for $18.5 million. City officials plan to extend Memorial Park, which is located next to the property. Lack of money was never a concern for the bustling lumberyard, which Jorgensborg said netted between $12 million and $13 million a year on the three-acre site. Weyerhaeuser Co. sold Fisher because it wanted out of the retail business, and instead focus on growing trees and manufacturing lumber. The new store sits on a half acre — roughly one sixth the size of the old operation. Jorgensborg, who hopes to make a profit within two years, estimates he’ll do a third of the volume in business sales than what was done at the previous lumberyard. The new Fisher Hardware & Lumber is now known as a “two stop process,” meaning customers can’t get all their supplies like they did at the old Fisher site. Large items such as timber needs to be custom ordered. “We know what the market wants and where our niche is,” Jorgensborg said. “We carry lots of ‘hard to find items’ that are difficult to find elsewhere.” > “We know what the market wants and where our niche is. We carry lots of ‘hard to find items’ that are difficult to find elsewhere.” — ERIC JORGENSBORG Owner of Fisher Hardware & Lumber The old store had 50 full-time employees. The new store has eight full-time employees and carries half the stock. The 3,000-square-foot facility has a wood shed in the back, which is a 3,500-square-foot area housing lumber, doors, pipes and fencing. The lumber housed there can be cut for custom orders. Jorgensborg didn’t have to hire any new employees, the entire staff at the new store used to work at the old site. Mitch Byard, manager of the windows and door department, has been with Fisher for 24 years. Rudy Perez, manager of the paint department, has been at Fisher for 18 years. Suruj Singh, who works in the tools, hardware and building material departments, has been with Fisher for 11 years. “I’m so happy to see my old customers,” Singh said. Diane Margolin, a long-time customer, said she’s glad to be able to get the help she needs from seasoned veterans. “It’s great to get service from people who know what they are talking about,” she said. “They know their stuff. They can help you with your projects... at the other stores... you know more than they do, and the parking here is great.” There are 12 parking spots in the front and 14 spots in the back of the building, which is nearly the same amount of spaces offered at the old site. The most popular sections are the paint, plumbing, electrical, building and hardware and windows and doors departments, Jorgensborg said. Now in the smaller store, Fisher won’t be stocking framing material, only finishing materials. And the automotive department is gone. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/123005-01_01.jpg) (Left) The ‘wood shed’ in the back of the new Fisher Hardware & Lumber houses the company’s timber stock. (Photo: Fabian Lewkowicz/Daily Press) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/123005-01_02.jpg) (Left) The ‘wood shed’ in the back of the new Fisher Hardware & Lumber houses the company’s timber stock. (Photo: Fabian Lewkowicz/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 30, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/123005.pdf?ref=smdp.com)