In business since 1907!

With a strong tradition and history, Lanham has grown and prospered in the face of many challenges since its beginning in 1907. We are proud and excited to continue the legacy of the determined, people-centered leadership that has driven Lanham to succeed for more than a century. The people-centered focus keeps us going strong in today’s ever-changing environment of technology, product innovation, and a worldwide marketplace.

In 1898, Peter B. Lanham, Sr. (“Ben”) returned to Lebanon, Kentucky (from Iowa) where he took over his father’s interest (his father Francis Hillery Lanham having passed away) in a lumber and casket manufacturing business. About the turn of the century, they started making hardwood flooring with their principle market being New York City – at that time the demand was for thin strip (5/16”) flooring for covering old pine floors.

1907

Ben Lanham sold out to his father’s old partner and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, establishing the Lanham Hardwood Flooring Co. At that time the fashion was for patterns of squares, herringbone, and basket weave designs for the field, with borders of interlocking designs, many copied from architect Greek designs using a variety of woods such as walnut, cherry, mahogany, white maple, and oak. Later the intricate patterns of the French, taken from the palaces at Fountain Bleu and Versailles, along with the random width plank floors of colonial America, replaced the old parquetry borders – Jefferson’s Monticello also finished a design that was very popular, although it too had originated in France.

WWII

The war brought change to many businesses. In the flooring industry, parquet flooring became less popular. Ben Lanham passed away in 1936 and the business was taken over by his two sons, Charles and Peter, Jr. After flirting with the material handling business for a few years after the war, the brothers decide to move the business South to be closer to the sources of hardwood lumber and a better labor market.

1953

A modern flooring manufacturing facility and sawmill were built in Greensburg, Kentucky. The main office and distribution warehouse remained in Louisville.

1963

Peter Lanham, Jr. and his son, Peter III, bought out Charles Lanham and continued to very successfully operate the business until 1969, when the storm clouds began to gather. Wall-to-wall carpet was becoming the “in” thing and the supply of logs for the saw mill was increasingly difficult to obtain. This turn of events brought on a business decision to liquidate the factory and sawmill. Peter, Jr. took over the warehouse in Louisville. Peter III became General Manager in Greensburg for Jasper Corporation, who bought the property.

1980

Peter III returned to Louisville, bought out his father and his father’s partner, and continued to grow the business as a wholesale distributor of hardwood flooring and supplies.

1998

Steve and Anne McDonald purchased Lanham Hardwood Flooring Co., with the corporate headquarters and main distribution center in Louisville, Kentucky, and a second branch in Cincinnati, Ohio. They brought with them their sons-in-law, Blake Blythe and David Schmelzer, to run the business.

2000

Under the leadership of Blake and David, Lanham opened a third branch in Indianapolis, Indiana. Additionally, having primarily been an unfinished hardwood flooring distributor, Lanham decided to expand and enter the prefinshed hardwood flooring business as well.

2005

As the business continued to grow, the need for more space in Louisville was apparent. The Louisville location on Pinewood Road relocated to a larger facility on Bishop Lane, which afforded room to continue to grow the business.

2008

Lanham Hardwood Flooring Co. acquired American Product of Kentucky, located in Louisville.

2014

Needing more space, the Indianapolis branch moved from Corporation Drive to a larger location on Ford Drive in Fishers, Indiana, just outside of Indianapolis.

2015

Lanham expanded their regional market presence by opening its fourth branch in Columbus, Ohio on Paragon Drive.

2016

Due to the need for more space, the Cincinnati branch underwent an expansion, doubling the size of the facility.

2017

Lanham expanded its product offering by entering the vinyl flooring market.

2019

Lanham launched a new website and implemented a new company-wide software solution to manage inventory, accounting, and to elevate customer service at all branches.

2025

Lanham Hardwood Flooring Co. expanded into the Cleveland, Ohio market by acquiring North Coast Hardwood Flooring, located in Richfield, Ohio, making this the company’s fifth location. Additionally, Lanham rolls out its Webstore to help customers by allowing them to log in to the Webstore to view inventory, place orders, etc.

2026

Lanham Hardwood Flooring Co. relocates the Cleveland branch (Richfield, Ohio) into a larger facility approximately 15 miles north in the city of Cleveland, Ohio.

Feature Photo: [A Lumberman’s Dream], Detroit Publishing Company photograph collection (Library of Congress); circa early 1900s