Johnstone Supply (Portland, Ore.) will open a 100,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Breiningsville, Pa., in April. It will be the company's first in the Northeast. Its other major distribution centers are in Memphis, Tenn., and Portland, Ore.

The company said the new facility will serve 68 stores and will offer a customized line of products for local and regional contractors. The center is part of its new strategic distribution model with the primary goal of next-day delivery.

In other news, Johnstone held its 2004 annual meeting Sept. 20-25 in Chicago. More than 700 store owners, manufacturers representatives and corporate executive staff attended the event, which included a trade show. The company reported its 2003 sales were up from 2002 by 13.5% at $704 million, and that it added 31 new stores in the past fiscal year.