They choose a mill town – Scottdale – that was situated near the major east-west corridor at that time, US Highway 78. Once on Highway 78, it was a relatively quick ride from Scottdale to most destinations, including downtown Atlanta, Stone Mountain, Snellville, Tucker, and even Athens. And if the materials needed to go north or south, then US 29 was right around the corner.

By the mid-80’s, business was booming, and Magbee Brothers Lumber was riding a wave of prosperity, but it was becoming increasingly difficult for the company to service the builders who were working the suburbs in Gwinnett, Fulton and Cobb. Cobb and Gwinnett were consistently posting record numbers of building permits every year, while the number of permits issued in DeKalb county was dwindling. Once again sensing that the time was ripe for opportunity, the leadership of Magbee Brothers Lumber decided to leave Scottdale and head to the heart of Gwinnett County in the City of Duluth.

In 1989, a familiar face around the lumberyard assumed leadership of the company: Bob Magbee, son of Charles Magbee. Bob had grown up in the business, spending afternoons and summers with his father and uncle making deliveries and unloading railcars. After graduating from college, Bob had started his own millwork shop in nearby Tucker to supply custom doors and windows to builders. When his uncle decided to retire, Bob moved his shop into the Duluth facility, and took on the role of president of Magbee Brothers Lumber. He changed the name to Magbee Contractors Supply that same year to reflect the company’s vision of being the supplier of choice for builders and contractors in the Metro Atlanta area.

Six years after opening in Decatur, Magbee Brothers Lumber had outgrown the tiny College Avenue location, and moved further from the city, closer to the suburbs that were bubbling up all over DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties