Construction experience, concrete solutions

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/05/2025 (184 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Larry and Nettie Loewen like to mix it up.

Eight years after starting a contracting business in Steinbach, the couple entered the retail industry when they opened Concrete Source in the Eastman-region city in 2020.

In December, they moved to Winnipeg; on May 5, they opened a Concrete Source store adjacent to the southwest side of Manitoba’s capital. Located at 15 Prairie Wy. in the Rural Municipality of Macdonald, the store, like its Steinbach counterpart, sells a variety of construction tools and concrete products.

“We are very excited that we’re open,” Larry said.

For almost six months, there was a sign on the building visible from McGillivray Boulevard announcing the store was coming soon. As such, the Loewens were fielding calls from contractors throughout the winter wondering when it would open.

“That’s my bad for getting the logo on there so early,” Larry said.

At 6,200 square feet, the store is about the same size as the Steinbach location. The Loewens aims to provide everything contractors need for concrete work, whether its protective equipment, tape measures, rebar tying machines, power screeds or decorative sealers.

Born in Mexico and raised in Kleefeld, Larry started working in concrete as a summer job when he was 15 years old.

Now 34, he said he loves the artistry involved in concrete work — like the way you need to take the weather into consideration to guarantee a good pour and the different techniques for ensuring the finished concrete is flat.

Larry and Nettie, who was born and raised in Winkler, started LNL Concrete Work in 2012. The company specializes in flatwork.

The couple opened Concrete Source five years ago, because they felt there was a need in Steinbach. There were lumber yards selling some of the items needed for concrete work, Nettie said, but given their experience in the industry, the Loewens thought they could make a greater selection of tools available.

“We almost kind of did it before we knew what we were doing,” Nettie said.

“We 100 per cent went into it blindly,” Larry added. “We had zero retail experience.”

About a year after opening the store, it was successful enough they started thinking about a Winnipeg location. They bought the property on Prairie Wy in summer 2022 and started building in October 2023.

The Loewens declined to disclose how much it cost to build the Winnipeg store and what Concrete Source’s annual revenue is.

“That’s not our focus. Our focus is to give out as much as we can and to grow,” Nettie said. “And happy customers — that’s our focus.”

The Loewens say they’ve heard from people who find it strange two people who own a contracting company would start a retail store and sell to competitors. But speak with the couple for any length of time and you’ll pick up on their sincere desire to assist all people in the concrete industry.

“Our construction knowledge has definitely helped us to grow this company,” Larry said.

“That’s why we started this, because we knew what the guys all needed,” Nettie added. “It’s definitely been worth it. It’s been a lot of fun.”

If Concrete Source is missing a product, the Loewens will do their best to get it.

“Anything you need that you can think of that you don’t see here?” Larry could be heard asking a customer when a Free Press reporter visited the store this week.

Concrete Source’s arrival in Winnipeg comes at a busy time for the construction industry, according to Winnipeg Construction Association president Ron Hambley.

“I’m sure the industry will welcome additional competition and an additional supplier,” he said. “Contractors get their favourite suppliers and I suspect this company has a few of those and they’ll probably do very well.”

The best part about operating Concrete Source, according to Nettie, is seeing customers leave the store happy. “That’s the joy and pride in it — to serve a customer with what they need.”

Concrete Source employs five people in Steinbach. The Loewens are currently the only staff members at the Winnipeg store.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca