Almquist Lumber is the longtime valued provider of hardwoods, cabinet hardware, and woodworking tools to contractors, woodworkers, and cabinet builders throughout the North coast. After many years in the off the beaten path hamlet of Blue Lake, Eric Almquist made the momentous decision to re-locate his business to Arcata in order to be in a location more convenient to his customers coming from Arcata, Eureka, and points south.
The challenge in the construction was to provide a large, relatively inexpensive to build space, while maintaining the intimate atmosphere for the personal service the fiercely loyal customers have come to expect.
Architect Philippe Lapotre, owner Eric Almquist, Pacific Builders, and Garco Metal Buildings worked together to achieve those goals on the former lath mill site.
The end result is 2500 square feet of lumber storage, 9528 square feet of space for retail lumber and custom hardware, and the largest selection of woodworker’s tools in the area.
There is also 3009 square feet of office space, a 10,000 square foot warehouse, and 2500 square feet for shipping and receiving.
The intimacy factor was regained in the large space by featuring the woodworker’s gallery directly adjacent the main entry and a small café off the entry lobby.
Just outside the entry is a space for sculptors to display their work.
The front of the store has a generous covered area, framed with Spruce timbers milled by Eric Almquist.
The carpenters building the overhang were well aware that at some point, every carpenter and woodworker in the county would be inspecting their work with a critical eye!
One of the unique aspects of the main building is that it has radiant floor heat that is generated by waste wood from Almquist on site milling operations leading to a pleasant shopping and working environment through all seasons.
