Leading the Way at Lumber Depot

By Heather Rule

Lumber Depot in New York Mills welcomed a new owner at the start of 2025: Isaac Rutten.

Rutten started with the company in 2018. He’d grown up in Perham and the construction field, and he has an engineering background. He was looking to do something a little different, and the opportunity came along when his parents, the previous owners, started to step back from the business operations. Rutten started managing the business a couple of years ago, running more of the day-to-day business.

Previously, he also contributed to the business by doing cabinet design and drafting. Not too much has changed with the business under his new leadership. He’s “just taking baby steps,” Rutten said. They acquired an additional truck with a piggyback – a large flatbed truck with a forklift mounted in the back – so now they have two such trucks that will help move materials more efficiently.

“The first year has been pretty good,” Rutten said. “It was a good first year to have. Still going pretty strong here through the end of it.”

As the business name might suggest, Lumber Depot, located at 110 E. Centennial Drive in the heart of New York Mills, is a full-service lumber yard, with everything from drafting to design, cabinetry, flooring, countertops, millwork, and material delivery. “Some customers don’t realize Lumber Depot can help with cabinets, countertops, and flooring services,” Rutten added.

Those interested in the Lumber Depot services are invited to stop by and speak with Rutten or any employee to find what they’re looking for to fulfill their project needs. The Lumber Depot doesn’t specialize in one particular area, but instead, they can help in many different areas. They have someone to help with adding a deck or a full building. They have someone to help build a house, whether it’s a $300,000 house or a $3 million house, and anywhere in between.

“Pretty much everything that needs to go in a house, we can help you cover it, besides electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and concrete,” Rutten said. “We’ll point you in the right direction.”

For more information: lumberdepot.biz/