SANFORD – A York company plans to expand its retail lumber and hardware business to south Sanford.

Eldredge Lumber and Hardware, located in the Cape Neddick section of York, has contracted to purchase three land parcels in south Sanford, including a vacant building at 1787 Main St. – Route 109 – that was most recently utilized by Jokers Fireworks. The second lot is adjacent the Main Street building and the third is on Airport Road, behind the Main Street locations.

According to documents on file at the city’s Planning Department, Eldredge Lumber is seeking approval to renovate the existing 11,280-square-foot building and expand it by 3,600 square feet; construct a 20,800-square-foot warehouse and add three, 6,600-square-foot pole barn storage sheds.

“We love Sanford; we’re delivering up there a lot and it gets us 30 minutes from all our customers,” said company General Manager Dan Remick, describing the location as part of a “golden triangle” that includes York, Sanford and Portland. “If we’re delivering to a camp on Great East Lake, a one hour and 15 minute drive turns into 30 minutes.”

The new Sanford lumber and hardware store will complement their existing locations. In addition to their flagship Eldredge Lumber & Hardware store in the Cape Neddick district of York, the company operates Atlantic Design Center in York and Eldredge Bros. Fly Shop in Cape Neddick; Kittery Ace Hardware; and Eldredge Lumber & Hardware, Eldredge Kitchen & Bath and Marvin Design Gallery in Portland.

Remick said the company is looking to have the Sanford location operational by 2020, or earlier if possible.

Eldredge Lumber’s application to the city’s Site Plan Review Committee was scheduled to be heard at 9 a.m. today. The Site Plan Review’s recommendation will be passed onto the Sanford Planning Board, which will hold a public hearing on the application at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at City Hall, 919 Main St. Remick said the company has applied for needed permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Sanford resident Greg Ackroyd will manage the Sanford location, said Remick, who  estimated the lumber yard and hardware store will employ 30 to 35 people.

Eldredge Lumber was started in 1937 by Wolfrett “Wolf” Eldredge, who began the business by marketing lumber he salvaged from the demolition of the old Passaconaway Inn, a 19th century Cape Neddick summer resort hotel, according to the company’s online history. The company expanded to Portland in 2011. According to its website, Eldredge Lumber & Hardware and its  various other retail locations  employ about 120 people.

Sanford Planning Director Beth Della Valle said when she served as a temporary planner in York, she was impressed by the company’s quality operations and their attentiveness to detail. She said the lumber and hardware company has been working on its Sanford plan since the spring.

“’I’m excited they’re coming to Sanford,” she said.

“We love the location, Sanford’s a great town, and we think this is a great opportunity,” said Remick.  “There’s a lot going on up there, and it’s a nice, central location for us.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.