The company’s East Des Moines location became permanent in 1967when Leachman Lumber purchased all of its leased property from Hubbell Realty, plus some adjacent properties, nearly doubling the size of the lumberyard. In 1978 the company remodeled and opened a new store facility and a 12,000-foot warehouse at the Hubbell location . . . just in time for the recession of 1980.

In 1979, the third generation began to make its mark on the business. Mark C. Leachman Jr. came on board and learned the business from the ground up working in the yard, then working in the store and helping with dispatching duties, to ultimately stepping into the role of buyer, following his fathers’ retirement. After navigating the recession in the mid-1980s, the company acquired three more adjacent properties in 1989, and by the next year had added a 7500-foot warehouse and expanded employee parking. It was also at this time that John D. (Jack) Leachman Jr. joined the sales staff. Jack continues to work in new business development, especially with general contractors.

In 1995 James Kahler joined Leachman Lumber Company as general manager, bringing 20 years of hardwood lumber sales and management experience with him. He retired in 2019. Since 1995, 10 additional residential properties surrounding Leachman Lumber have been acquired which allowed for the addition of a 12,000-foot warehouse, a doubling of open storage space, improved logistics and expanded employee parking, all completed in 2005.