Valley Iron was born in 1958, when David Newman and Martin Richtel opened their steel yard on Cherry Avenue in Fresno. Newman and Richtel worked well as partners, building their fledgling shop into an established business that sold steel products to local farmers, construction companies, and other area businesses.
After 25 years, the founders decided it was time to enjoy retirement. They sold Valley Iron to supplier and longtime Bakersfield iron man, Jim Briscoe, and his wife, Lee Anne in September 1983. The Briscoe’s plan was to transform the company into a full steel distribution center with a wider geographical reach, and an emphasis on new steel. Within their first decade, the couple invested in a metal warehouse, complete with overhead cranes plus a new office building.
Just four successful years later, a second warehouse was added for storage to protect the material from the Valley fog and rain. A third soon followed to house their new venture into stainless steel and aluminum. To keep up with demand, the Briscoe’s realized they needed additional space.
In 2005 Valley Iron seamlessly transitioned from its original 5.5 acre property with 40,000 square feet of warehouse space to an entirely new facility just a half-mile down the street. Maintaining full capacity service at the original location, there was no interruption of service when building the new location. Closing the old shop on Friday and opening on Monday in the 20-acre facility with 110,000 square feet under roof was a feat of logistics. In 2007, the company added office space, and constructed another building for its venture into plate processing. In 2010, Valley Iron added a second location in Vacaville, with 7 acres and 95,000 square feet of warehouse space. With expansions totaling 24 acres and 200,000 square feet under roof in Fresno and the Vacaville location, the company is well positioned to service all of Central and Northern California. The latest addition to the firm occurred in 2021, in which Valley Iron welcomed All Metals Supply, located in Oroville, California and became Valley Iron’s third location. Concurrent with the acquisition of All Metals Supply a major expansion of the Fresno office was initiated and the plan is to triple the office space.
All of us at Valley Iron look back with pride on our 60+ years of customer service — and look forward to what the future will bring.
We invite you to join us on that journey.
VALLEY IRON TIMELINE
June 2021
2021
Proudly welcoming All Metals Supply to the Valley Iron family. At Valley Iron, we have long admired and respected All Metals [...]
April 2017
2017
The Valley Iron delivery fleet grows to 21 trucks in Fresno and 6 in Vacaville.
January 2016
2016
Valley Iron completes the expansion of their plate processing building, making room for more machines.
January 2015
2015
Valley Iron constructs 60,000 square feet of warehouse space for stainless and aluminum, with a new packaging and materials handling system. Named [...]
January 2010
2010
Valley Iron expands into Northern California by opening a facility in Vacaville.
January 2007
2007
The business adds 16,500 square feet of facilities and new equipment to venture into plate processing.
January 2005
2005
The Briscoe’s move the business and expand to a 24-acre facility with 110,000 square feet of warehouse space.
May 2003
2003
Named Family Business of the Year plus the Small Family Business of the Year by the Institute of Family Business at Fresno [...]
January 1999
1999
A third warehouse is built to accommodate new stainless steel and aluminum product lines.
January 1994
1994
The distribution center adds a second warehouse for storage.
January 1990
1990
Valley Iron builds its first metal warehouse and office.
January 1983
1983
Jim and Lee Anne Briscoe purchase Valley Iron.
January 1958
1958
David Newman and Martin Richtel open a small operation to supply used steel to farmers and construction.