WHAT IS COLE'S?
Cole's Home Solutions has proudly served Mid-South contractors and Do-It-Yourselfers for over 60 years as a locally-owned home improvement superstore. No matter your project, Cole's will provide you with the tools, support, and solutions to get the job done at an affordable price. The Cole's customer can even test sinks, showers, and power tools before they buy. Make Cole's Home Solutions your home improvement destination. Only minutes from Memphis at 8323 Hwy 51 N in Millington.
HISTORY OF COLE'S
C.E. Cole Sr.The Cole Company originated in the 1940’s in a small Drummonds, TN sawmill. Owned and operated by Clifton Cole, it was built upon the principles of hard work and family pride.
In the late 1950’s, Clifton turned the business over to his four sons, and the family made the transition from sawmill to
Sawmilllumberyard and began selling hardware goods from an 18’ x 24’ grocery store building. Around this time, Mary Cole, wife of Charles “Bub” Cole, was hired to manage the business office.
In 1962, Cole Lumber Company opened new doors at a second location in Millington, Tennessee. This store was successfully managed by Howard King, brother-in-law to the Cole brothers, until his death in 1989. The original Millington store, although completely destroyed by fire in 1977, was only temporarily delayed from serving the community, reopening only one day later in a satellite location.
On January 1st, 1963, the four sons: Charles "Bub", Manard "Soup", Patrick "Cowboy", Calvin "Jiggs" formed the corporation known today as Cole Lumber Company, Inc.
In 1972, the brothers built a new 4,000 square foot home for the original company in Drummonds. The Drummonds location is still in business today, and caters to many local contractors. It remains a driving force behind the growth of the South Tipton County community.
Millington storeBecause of the continued growth in South Tipton County and Millington, Cole's Do It Best Center opened in Millington in 1990 as an 18,500-square foot facility with a greater focus on retail. The new store provided the community with around 50 new jobs.
As the business grew, the Cole's continued to look for new ways to serve the community and found a great need for a local home decor store. Thus, Cole's Cabinets, Floors & More opened in Millington in 1999. This store offered a complete selection of in-stock finished and unfinished cabinets and vanities, as well as a large selection of ceramic tile, hardwood flooring, carpet and other styles of flooring.
When the new Cole's Home Solutions opened in November 2009, it had expanded to 70,000 square feet and included a state-of-the-art Home Decor department, a new cafe, a one-of-a-kind Appliance department, a Drive-Through Lumberyard, and many more uniquely featured departments. This new store boasts working kitchen, bathroom, and shower displays, as well as, a Working Garage where customers can try any power tool before they ever buy one!
Since the new Cole’s Home Solutions has been open, the company has received much attention from the industry and media for its unique atmosphere, along with the new concepts and creativity in thinking outside the retail box. Due to this attention, Cole’s has recently been the subject of several write-ups and stories, including “Hardware Retailing” Magazine, “The Hardware Connection” Magazine, “Home Channel News” Magazine, “Memphis Business Quarterly”, and “Memphis Business Journal.”
In May 2010, Cole’s received two prestigious industry awards. During the 65th annual National Hardware Show in Las Vegas, Charles Cole accepted the organization’s “Top Gun” Award. In recognizing Cole’s achievement, NRHA judges proclaimed the new Millington store as “like nothing else in the industry. By utilizing ideas from all areas of retail, the Cole’s team has produced one of the most truly unique and innovative home improvement stores in the country.”
Also at the National Hardware Show, Charles Cole accepted the “Tools of the Trade” award at the 26th annual Golden Hammer Awards hosted by Home Channel News. The Golden Hammer Awards showcase vendors and retailers who stand out among the competition. Cole’s Home Solutions was selected as the recipient of the 2010 “Tools of the Trade” award due to “its ambitious renovation and expansion of its showpiece home center.”
Over the years, Cole Lumber Company, Inc. has truly remained a family business. Generations of Cole's now proudly work for the company. The entire Cole family has a fine reputation for not only being community leaders, but also for lending a hand both physically and financially to the community. All Cole employees are treated as if they too are a part of the Cole tradition.
