Locke-ing Up A New Tenant

Major commercial and residential building materials provider Locke Supply Co. has selected Mesquite as the location for its next expansion, according to a press release from the City of Mesquite.

The 100 percent employee-owned company – which serves a variety of commercial contractors with plumbing, electrical and mechanical related supplies – will be moving into a vacant building at 4414 Gus Thomasson Road that was previously a Minyard Food Store.

In the press release, District 1 council member Sherry Wisdom called the addition of Locke Supply Co. an excellent investment in Mesquite by a successful company.

“Their reuse of this existing building will continue to generate economic development in this part of our community,” Wisdom said. “The City of Mesquite has already contributed significantly in the improvement of infrastructure, transportation and quality of life amenities in this section of Gus Thomasson Road. The investment by Locke Supply Co. in the property will spur the continuation of further revitalization of Mesquite.”

Wisdom said the City has facilitated a number of enhancements and massive investments in this area of the community in recent years.

In 2017, the Villas of Vanston Park development opened and features a three-story mixed-use development and Mesquite’s first multi-level parking garage. Later that year, the City completed $1.5 million in extensive renovations to Vanston Park. The City is also completing the $11.6 million Thomasson Square Project that features an array of improvements to the infrastructure, roads and pedestrian accessibility to nearby neighborhoods and shopping.

The Mesquite City Council approved a zoning change on Dec. 21, 2020 to allow Locke Supply Co. to move into the 34,000-square-foot building located at the corner of Oates Drive and Gus Thomasson. Minyard closed its store in 2016.

City Manager Cliff Keheley said the property is no longer suited for a grocer because of the building’s size or proximity to other grocery stores in the area and called Locke Supply Co. an excellent reuse for the shopping center.

“It will generate much-needed economic development activity and enhancements to the entire center,” Keheley said. “In addition to Locke’s renovation of the building, the property owner will improve the appearance of the entire center.” 

Locke Supply Co. started on a shoestring budget in 1955 when Don and Wanda Locke opened a wholesale plumbing supply outlet in Bartlesville, Okla. It was a family operation with no additional employees. In late 1956 and early 1957, the Lockes moved their company to Oklahoma City. A second branch opened in 1958. Today, the company has 180 store locations in seven states.