HISTORY OF TOPANGA LUMBER & HARDWARE CO., INC.

 

 

Topanga Lumber & Hardware Company, located in the beautiful community of Topanga, was opened shortly after World War II in 1945. The company served the small and somewhat isolated community for the next 21 years when in 1966 Denis Contis, the current president of the company, purchased the business from Dorothy Hogen and the property from Merle Bouseman. With the business growing and changing, Dan Sabin, an old high school friend of Denis’, joined the company as a business partner in 1970.

In January 1977 Denis and Dan hired Ernie Demontreux, who at the time was working at a bike shop in Santa Monica. A fast learner, Ernie was soon promoted to yard foreman. In 1984, Dan died suddenly and Denis took over the business as a sole owner and promoted Ernie to General Manager. Shortly thereafter, Denis incorporated the company.

Together Denis and Ernie worked to continue growing the company serving local contractors and homeowners. In 1993, after suffering through two years of a deep recession in the residential construction business, Denis and Ernie expanded into a new area. The decision was made to enter into the movie and television industries by selling materials for set construction and film production. This move proved to be a momentous decision. The entertainment business grew rapidly and was so successful that within four years it became obvious that Topanga Lumber had outgrown its original space. In 1998, the company opened a second location in Glendale, devoted to supplying and serving the entertainment industry. This second location also provides lumber storage capacity supporting the Topanga yards’ booming contractor business.

Today, Topanga Lumber Company, with the help of a great team of employees including Willie Chaides, Topanga Manager, Lynn Causey, Glendale Manager, Peter Garcia, Contractor Sales, Rachel Chaides, Accounting, and Ryan Mero, Network Administrator, plus a terrific support staff of drivers, yard men and sales personnel continues serving our local community and the entertainment industry with the best service, best quality materials, and always competitive pricing.

Our goal is to continue improving our service, selection of materials, quality of goods, and always offer the best prices possible to our great customers, who’ve been such a large part of our success……And have fun doing it!!