Menards is a well-known, family-owned home improvement retail chain in the American Midwest. It is the third-largest home improvement retailer in the United States, after The Home Depot and Lowe’s, and holds a leading position across the Midwest.

Basic Facts

• Founded in 1958 by John Menard. It started as a shed-building business and later expanded into lumber sales under the original name Menard Cashway Lumber.
• Headquarters: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
• Business structure: privately owned family company, not publicly traded
• Slogan: Save BIG Money! — focused on low pricing
• Stores: Over 340 locations across 15 Midwestern states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Kentucky, West Virginia and Wyoming. It has almost no stores on the East or West Coasts.

Product Range (one-stop shopping)

Besides core building materials and DIY supplies, it carries a wide variety of goods:

• Lumber, concrete, roofing, doors, windows, flooring, plumbing, electrical supplies, paint, hardware and cabinets
• Hand & power tools, gardening supplies, outdoor furniture, fencing and storage buildings
• A distinctive feature: Most locations have a small grocery section and pet supplies, plus snacks and drinks — a mix of lumber yard and convenience store.
• Private brands: Masterforce (tools), Midwest Manufacturing, Mastercraft, Grip Fast, Tuscany and more for budget-friendly options.

Services

• Truck rental, propane exchange, garden center, lumber cutting service
• Many stores open as early as 5 a.m. for contractors; typical hours for regular shoppers are 6 a.m.–10 p.m., with shorter hours on Sundays.
• Online shopping via menards.com: around 400,000 items available online, while roughly 70,000 items are stocked in-store.

Differences from The Home Depot & Lowe’s

1. Ownership: Menards is family private-owned; the other two are public listed companies.
2. Coverage: Menards concentrates almost entirely on the Midwest; The Home Depot and Lowe’s operate nationwide.
3. Vibe & pricing: Menards generally offers lower prices and has a small-town feel with grocery goods. The Home Depot and Lowe’s follow a more standardized format and provide more professional contracting services.
4. Reputation: It has repeatedly won J.D. Power awards for customer satisfaction, with a more local, neighborhood-hardware-store style of service.

Extra note

Since it is privately held, Menards does not release full financial reports. Founder John Menard has consistently ranked among America’s wealthiest people. For DIY homeowners and professional builders in the Midwest, Menards is a top choice for building supplies.