F.W. Webb opens Pennsylvania location

F.W. Webb is expanding into Pennsylvania with the opening of a branch in Allentown.

F.W. Webb is expanding into Pennsylvania with the opening of a branch in Allentown. Pennsylvania marks the ninth state where F.W. Webb has a presence, joining the six New England states, New Jersey and New York. The facility is slated to open in early May 2014.

F.W. Webb’s newest branch is located in Allentown, Pa. Pennsylvania marks the ninth state where the company has a presence.

The 64,000-sq.-ft. building adjacent to Lehigh Valley International Airport will stock an extensive inventory of high-quality products for residential trades and fuel dealers, including propane, plumbing, heating, HVAC and refrigeration equipment and supplies.

F.W. Webb Propane and Natural Gas General Manager Pete Dwyer told PM the propane and natural gas markets were the initial lure to the area. The company already had a salesperson in the Allentown region for 10 years.

“We generate a lot of business there, but we were shipping out of Hartford, Conn., to that area,” he said. “We were originally looking for a propane and natural gas equipment location. We went to Allentown and saw the growth potential there and found a building that would provide the same layout as one of our traditional buildings. It made sense to open a full F.W. Webb location instead of a specialty house. This gives us a great opportunity to expand our business model into Pennsylvania.”

Additionally, the site will be the future home to a Frank Webb’s Bath Center retail location. Construction on the 8,000-sq.-ft. showroom will begin in 2015. Matt Bliven is the new location’s branch manager. “Matt comes from our Syracuse location and will do a terrific job,” Dwyer said.