Iowa Retailer Ar-Jay Expands

Cedar Rapids, IA, July 11--A major expansion of Ar-Jay Building Center beginning this week will bring the company's Comfort Living Center and Carpets Plus of Iowa locations under the same roof, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Work is beginning on a 28,800-square-foot addition of the building supply business at the southwest corner of Blairs Ferry Road and Council Street NE. The expansion will provide improved showroom space for products including kitchen and bathroom cabinets, countertops, fireplaces, lighting, carpet, tile, windows, doors, siding, sunrooms, windows and doors. The expanded facility also will house the company's Comfort Living Center operations now operating in leased space at 2343 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, and Ar-Jay's CarpetsPlus business now housed at 762 N. Center Point Rd. NE. Ar-Jay President Ralph Palmer said the company decided the time was right to expand as it looked at leases maturing for the outside locations, low interest rates, and the potential benefits of consolidating at one location. "What I hope is that this will be a better work environment, a better place for our remodeling and contractor customers, and a better place for our retail customers to shop," Palmer said.