Company History
For over one hundred years and across four generations, the Kahan family, through Interstate + Lakeland Lumber, has been committed to providing quality services and materials at extremely competitive pricing.
Since 1922 this company has been dedicated to servicing the needs of the area's finest builders throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties. This rich and vibrant tradition will be carried on for many years to come as the company continues to build upon its strong network of valued relationships.
Early 1900s
In the fall of 1900, an eleven-year-old boy from Romania named Leon Kahan arrived in New York City with little more than a suitcase and a dream. After years of hard work and effort, Leon perfected the trade of a master wood carver before becoming a partner in a Brooklyn, New York chair factory. Through his experience, Leon developed a broad knowledge and passion for woodworking and lumber. That experience and drive would culminate in the founding of what is now Interstate + Lakeland Lumber. Today, Interstate + Lakeland Lumber remains dedicated to the same ideals of craftsmanship and professional service on which Leon built his business.
Interstate Lumber & Mill Corporation est. 1922
In 1922, at thirty-three, Leon Kahan brought several of his associates to Greenwich, Connecticut, where he founded Interstate Lumber & Mill Corporation. He began with a woodworking shop and quickly nurtured his craft into a thriving lumber business. Until he passed away in 1968, Leon Kahan developed an impeccable reputation throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties as an outstanding businessman. As the original location in Greenwich, CT, began to thrive, Leon saw an opportunity to expand his business by establishing other locations and bringing his two sons, and eventually sons-in-law, into the business. Leon's eldest son, Jack, joined the firm in 1945, followed by Jack's brother, Herb, in 1950. With a family infrastructure in place, Leon began to build his business. In 1954, he purchased Lakeland Lumber in Shrub Oak, NY. Later that year, he added a yard to the growing Interstate collection in Stamford, CT. Upon Leon's death in 1968, Jack and Herb continued to grow the business.
Continued Growth
In 1978, Jack's son, Sheldon, joined the firm where he quickly focused on a path of sales growth. Under his leadership, Interstate purchased an 11-acre parcel in Bethel, CT in 2001, and built a 40,000 sq. ft. millwork production and distribution facility. In 2007, a 57,000 sq. ft. expansion was completed to complement the existing facility -- expanding the millwork production and distribution space, as well as adding office space. That same year, Interstate Lumber & Mill Corp. formally merged with Lakeland Lumber to become Interstate + Lakeland Lumber,
In 2009, IL acquired the former Wickes Lumber site in Newtown, CT. The fifteen acre site has two rail spurs serviced by the Housatonic Railroad. This allows for a much more efficient material distribution system to our existing facilities, as well as direct deliveries to job sites.
Westport Location
Interstate’s most recent acquisition came a decade later, when IL purchased Torno Lumber & Hardware in 2020. Located on the vibrant main road of Westport, CT, this addition entrenched IL’s position as the preeminent building material supplier in Fairfield County. In 2022, Torno Hardware was converted into the newest full-scale Interstate Design Center. Unlike the traditional design of the Greenwich Design Center, the Westport location reflects modern design trends like polished concrete floors, exposed steel beams and trusses, and large windows to flood the space with natural light.
