SPS Companies - History

We are proud to have been serving the Twin Cities over 50 years. In 1951, the Suburban Plumbing Supply Company was established. The company began by serving the needs of Postwar-era plumbers - warehousing primarily soil pipe, copper and steel pipe and related fittings for mechanical contractors.

The St. Paul branch was opened in 1961. The company name was changed in 1976 to SPS Companies, Inc. to signify the diversification from a small suburban operation to a large multi-divisional, centrally located corporation.

In 1980, SPS Companies, Inc. opened Fantasia Showrooms, introducing high-end decorative plumbing never before available in the Minneapolis area. Fantasia also became the first showroom to feature decorative ceramic tile as well as fixtures to give the clients a more complete selection. In 1985, Fantasia became one of the original tenants of International Market Square, which was the first design center in Minnesota.

Continuing to increase its role in the mechanical industry, SPS Companies, Inc. started Minnesota Air in 1981, as a distributor of the Carrier line of heating and air conditioning equipment for a large portion of the upper Midwest. Minnesota Air was spun off as a separate corporation in 1999.

Since its establishment in 1984, Pipe Fabricators has offered pipe cutting, threading, grooving and welding second to none in the Midwest. Fire protection businesses are a major share of Pipe Fabricators' customer base. Pipe Fabricators also offers unique laborsaving alternatives to the mechanical pipe trades. In November 2000, a new facility that encompasses 100,000 square feet was opened in Maple Grove, MN. This created better flow of materials and handling and allows for the expansion of the territory served by the fabrication division.

Minnesota Standard Showplace opened in 1991, primarily for the clients of plumbers and builders. At the Minnesota Standard Showplaces, trained consultants assist consumers in making product selections for their new home or remodeling projects. In 2001, a new and expanded showplace was opened in the Minneapolis location. This expansion brings approximately 5,000 square feet of vignettes and offerings to the marketplace. In Bismarck, the name of the showplace is Dakota Standard Showplace.

Continuing to expand its opportunities in the Midwest, SPS Companies, Inc. purchased Globe, Inc. in 1996. With branches in St. Cloud and Mankato, Minnesota as well as Bismarck, North Dakota, this acquisition provides out-state customers more convenient locations for fixtures, equipment, parts, and supplies.

As with all businesses, change is inevitable. In October of 1999, the evaluation of SPS Companies, Inc. long-term business opportunities, succession plan and the goals of the primary shareholders, lead to a spin-off of the Minnesota Air and Fantasia Showroom divisions. This decision allows owners the ability to operate their divisions as independent enterprises with complete autonomy. The remaining Plumbing, HVAC/R, and Mechanical divisions now operate under the name SPS Company, Inc. as a fully integrated, full service supplier. The development of a new logo accommodated the new name and redefined identity (used throughout this web-site); the official overall corporate name remains SPS Companies, Inc.