Our History

Celebrating 75 Years

The History of Kelly Bros.

It has been more than half a century since the Kelly family took over a Northern Kentucky lumber distribution center, renamed it Kelly Bros. Lumber Co., and began turning it into what today is a building materials business and Design Center serving builders, remodelers and homeowners throughout the entire Greater Cincinnati Area.

1947

1950

1959

1975

1986

1987

1995

1997

2000

2004

2005

2007

2009

2010

2012

2014

2018

2021

2022

Kelly Bros. Lumber Co. begins operations. Partners in the business are brothers Ed, Gene and Ken Kelly, and their father, Rev. George Kelly. The business is operated on land leased from L&N Railroad.

Kelly Bros. becomes recognized by the Lumber & Millwork Association of Greater Cincinnati as a verified retail dealer.

Kelly Bros. enters the hard materials business, selling cement. A serious fire results in the loss of significant warehouse and inventory.

Steve Kelly graduates from Western Kentucky University and joins Kelly Bros full time.

Ed Kelly retires, and his son, Steve takes over as Vice President of Kelly Bros. Mike Coppage takes over Ken’s previous duties at Kelly Bros. Ken remains President of the company.

(pictured L to R: Mike Coppage, Ken Kelly, Ed Kelly, Steve Kelly)

A second serious fire results in the loss of warehouse and inventory. Kelly Bros. purchases the land in Covington from CSX (successor to L&N) and expands the site to six acres, 10 buildings and nearly 50,000 square feet of supply storage under one roof.

Kelly Bros. opens an 11,000 square foot office, which replaces the original office building.

Kelly Bros celebrates 50 years of business.

Kelly Bros. purchases Dry Ridge Lumber in Dry Ridge, KY.

Kelly Bros. rebrands itself as Kelly Bros. Home and Design Center.

Covington Design Center undergoes expansion and complete renovation.

Kelly Bros. constructs and opens Owen County Building Supply.

Steve Kelly serves as Chairman of National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association.

Kelly Bros is named a Masterbrand Cabinetry Platinum Partner.

All three locations become known as Kelly Bros. Home and Design Centers, with emphasis on becoming the #1 choice for custom homebuilders, remodelers, and homeowners.

Brandon Coppage, Kelly Brothers General Manager, serves as President of Kentucky Building Material Dealers Association.

Kelly Bros. is named an Andersen Platinum Dealer, a designation that continues today.

The Dry Ridge, KY location completes renovation, and expansion of its showroom.

Dan Magarian, a local businessman, completes the purchase of Kelly Bros. and becomes the new President and CEO. All existing management and staff remain, to ensure that Kelly Bros. continues as a locally owned and independent company serving Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. Read more about it here.

Kelly Bros. celebrates 75 years in business! The Company also completes a significant rebranding project for the new identity, Kelly Bros. Lumber + Design Co., including a new logo, a new and expanded website.

Our History

Celebrating 75 Years

The History of Kelly Bros.

Covington, KY

Dry Ridge, KY

Owenton, KY

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