Home Central opens fourth location

By JoAnn R. Walter
Writer
CORNING — Home Central, a family-owned business since the early 1970s and a staple
in our community, have recently acquired the Corning Building Company (CBC) located at
346 Park Ave. in Corning, N.Y. CBC becomes the fourth location for Home Central, and will soon be renamed Corning’s Home Central.

A community staple for over five decades, Home Central also operates three other locations in Owego, Vestal and Candor, N.Y. The Home Central family has served its communities, supported its employees, and has helped homeowners, DIYers, contractors, and businesses bring their projects to life.
CBC, a family-owned business since 1848 and owned by the Smith family since the 1890s, has been a trusted part of the Corning community for four generations. As Corning Home Central, the location will continue to serve their community with quality building materials, lumber, hardware, home improvement products, and knowledgeable service.

Owners of Home Central, Ben Whittemore and Aaron Gowan, remarked via a press release, “We are honored to welcome the CBC into the Home Central family, and are committed to supporting the Corning team,” adding, “The legacy built by the Smith family and the CBC over generations is truly remarkable. We understand the trust that comes with taking on a business that has been such an important part of its community, and we are committed to carrying that legacy forward.”

Home Central’s Owego location has been active for over 50 years, and its Candor location will soon celebrate 10 years. In Vestal, another long-term location, it has been seven years since their rebuild following a devastating warehouse fire.

In a sit-down interview at the Owego office, General Manager Ryan Rennells shared, “Our growth is a win for Tioga County, and we thank all of the people in the area who have supported us for years.”
Rennells has over 25 years of experience in the industry, with 15 years at Home Central. He shared that many team members at CBC and Home Central share that common bond, too, which is longevity in the business. Rennells estimated that the average tenure for both is about 20 years.

Regarding the CBC acquisition, Rennells noted, “We are keeping one hundred percent of the employees on board,” and added, “The CBC employees have built relationships within the community, and we can’t replace that knowledge.”

When asked about how discussions started between Home Central and CBC, Rennells said CBC owners, brothers Matt and Jim Smith, and their brother-in-law, Dennis Mryglot, couldn’t develop a continuing succession plan since no one in their family was interested in carrying on the business. Rennells said that Home Central and CBC have interacted at various events such as trade shows, so talks of what was next had taken place over the past few years.

“Home Central and CBC are about ninety percent similar, we buy from the same suppliers, so there really are only small differences,” Rennells said. “The Smith family felt that Home Central was a good option.”
“Our goal is to preserve what has made the CBC special while bringing the strength, resources, and opportunities of the Home Central family to Corning and the surrounding Southern Tier,” said Whittemore and Gowan.

Rennells said the addition of CBC will offer more purchasing power, greater selection and resources, and continue to provide personalized service to customers.
One product category that Home Central takes great pride in, Rennells said, is their diversity of lumber products and competitiveness of pricing.

“We meet or beat the Big Box stores,” Rennells said. “Ninety percent of our lumber is less expensive, and our purchasing team works with cooperatives and mills directly to keep us competitive.” He said that customers can’t beat the drive-through lumber pick-up at Home Central.
As Home Central works to incorporate CBC into their daily business, Rennells said that Owego’s investment in technology will help Corning, and that a software changeover will only enhance the customer experience. Home Central will be working on improving their e-commerce strategy overall as well, such as improved delivery options.

Among many added pros to CBC joining the Home Central family is the advantage that they offer major appliances. Owego’s Home Central Showroom and Design Center, opened in 2022, will benefit from this and in turn be able to present a whole package to customers with more product options.
Customers will also find new workwear selections at their favorite Home Central location. From clothing like pants and shirts, to boots and shoes, and more, there is something for all.
A grand re-opening is planned at the Corning location on Oct. 17, which will include blow-out specials, giveaways and several vendor displays.

To learn more about Home Central, including their stores at 151 Central Ave. In Owego, 199 Stage Rd. in Vestal, 309 Owego Rd. in Candor, and 346 Park Ave. in Corning, visit their web site, http://www.hcinc.com.