A local 84 Lumber outlet was among 20 stores the company closed this week in a cost-cutting move.
The Rostraver Township store, along with those in Meadville and Reading, are the only Pennsylvania stores to be affected in the latest round of cuts, which resulted in the elimination of 159 jobs.
The local store, which opened in September 1979 and closed Monday, had six employees at the time of the closing, according to company spokeswoman Robyn Hall, who said all of the local employees were given the option of relocating to another store.
To date, the building supply giant has closed 80 stores nationwide this year.
That leaves 335 remaining 84 Lumber stores, all of which are doing well, according to 84 Lumber vice president of corporate communications Jeff Nobers.
The company also has 11 component manufacturing plants, including the corporate headquarters in Eighty Four.
Hall said 84 Lumber still has more than 5,500 employees.
The nationwide slow economy, particularly in the area of new home building, has been blamed for the need for 84 Lumber to cut back.
In addition to the three stores closing in the state, other 84 Lumber stores closed Monday included four in Kentucky, two in Georgia and one each in Alabama, California, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and Virginia.
84 Lumber still maintains a local presence in the Mid-Mon Valley with a store in California and a truss plant in Coal Center.
Hall said the company is not planning any other store closings at this time.
