pick up materials. It could be a place where relationships were built, advice was given freely, and doing right by the customer mattered as much as the sale itself. That reputation carried the company through changing markets and growing competition. Gerber did not survive by trying to be the biggest. It endured by being the business customers trusted when the work truly mattered. 

That legacy entered a new chapter when third-generation owners Eldon and Steve Gerber sold the company in 2021 to Steve Miller and Kyle Simmons. Ownership changed, but the heart of the business did not. For them, taking on Gerber Lumber was never about rewriting its identity. It was about protecting what made it special and strengthening it for the future. They understood that when a company has served a community for more than a century, customers are not just buying materials—they are placing trust in a name earned over time. Their goal has been to carry that trust forward while listening carefully to what modern customers need. That philosophy shows up in the way Steve talks about business, “That’s when the sale starts, with the service. If we take care of people, they take notice. It makes all the difference. The best investment in business is the right people and that’s what we have here.” 

Under their leadership, Steve and Kyle expanded roofing and decking offerings, strengthened inventory, and invested in services like drafting and estimating so customers could get more than materials—they could get guidance, planning support, and the solutions they need. The team has worked tirelessly to deliver the new services with the warmth and personal attention that made the company successful in the first place. 

That is one of Gerber Lumber’s clearest differentiators. Compared with a big-box retailer, Gerber offers something harder to mass-produce: people who know the products, know the projects, and know the customers. The staff is service-oriented, knowledgeable, and invested in helping people succeed. A contractor may need accurate quotes to win a job. A homeowner may need help turning an idea into a realistic plan. A builder may need samples, permits, product recommendations, or a delivery schedule that keeps a project moving. Gerber has built its business around being a one-stop resource—small-town in feel, but backed by big resources and a commitment to finding the right solution. 

That commitment to solutions has also driven Gerber’s evolution. In 1993, the company expanded into molding and mill work, and in 1997 purchased Gerber Wood, widening its ability to serve customers with specialized craftsmanship and custom products. Now, that same spirit of thoughtful growth continues. Gerber has emphasized high-quality offerings such as kiln-dried treated lumber, shingles, composite decking, and premium doors and windows, while seeking supplier partners whose values align with its own. The goal is not growth for growth’s sake, but to build a business designed to last and keep customers at the center of every decision. 

That same thinking was evident in 2025 when Gerber Lumber acquired Hillside Hardware in Fredericksburg, a move not simply as an expansion, but as a chance to continue a trusted local legacy with the same care and service that define Gerber. For Steve, that is what makes the work rewarding. He has said he looks forward to coming to work every day because there is always an adventure

 waiting. But perhaps the deepest reward is seeing employees grow, build careers, and raise families while Gerber becomes part of their life plan. It is not just a business that sells lumber and hardware. It is a business that creates belonging. 

As Gerber Lumber looks ahead, the path forward is guided by a remarkably simple idea: listen to the customer. After 125 years, the company still believes the people it serves should help steer where it goes next. That is how a small sawmill became the trusted name for generations. For your next project, stop in at 4918 Kidron Rd, Kidron, OH 44636