8 min read
How a Storm Turned Into a Growth Opportunity for Hilly Ridge Equipment
Kevin Weaver founded Tristate Buildings with a simple idea: getting the space you need shouldn't be a headache.
More than 35 years later, that idea still drives how Tristate works. Kevin and his crews have built ag buildings, horse barns, commercial buildings, custom garages and more across the mid-Atlantic. Along the way, Tristate became known for going bigger than most builders will, with buildings up to 100 ft wide and 30 ft tall.
Kevin talks the way he builds. He's direct and doesn't hide the details. He'd rather tell you the real cost up front than surprise you halfway through a job. That's why every Tristate building comes with a Lifetime Workmanship Warranty and a detailed quote before any work starts.
- A storm flattened the Hilly Ridge Equipment showroom in Danville, PA. With help from neighbors, they reopened in five days.
- They chose to rebuild bigger instead of patching. Low ceilings were already limiting their shop, and a new occupancy permit triggered a firewall requirement.
- Tristate completed the full rebuild and expansion in three months, from January to March, while Hilly Ridge stayed open and kept every employee.
- The new building has higher ceilings, better lighting, more service bays, attic parts storage, and a timber frame porch that customers constantly ask about.
- Sales and customer traffic have kept growing with the same 11-person team.
When something you’ve built gets knocked down, you’ve got two choices: put it back the way it was, or build it the way it should’ve been all along.
We sat down with Derwin Seibel, Business Manager at Hilly Ridge Equipment Sales & Service, to talk about the storm that flattened their showroom, the decision to rebuild bigger instead of just patching the damage, and what it took to pull off a full expansion on a tight winter timeline without shutting the doors.
Over the course of our conversation, we dove into:
- What happened the night the storm hit
- How they reopened in 5 days after severe damage to the building
- Why Derwin chose to expand instead of just fixing what broke
- What it took to build through winter while staying open for business
- What changed for Hilly Ridge once the doors reopened
Here’s the full story, in Derwin’s words.
Hilly Ridge Equipment Sales & Service
Location: Danville, Pennsylvania
Project type: Storm-damage rebuild and commercial expansion
Timeline: January to March
Tell Us About Hilly Ridge. How Did You Get Started?
We started the business in 1999. When we first got going, it was just repairs. We added the sales side of things soon after.
We worked out of a small shop on my dad’s farm for about 10 years, then rented another location for four years while we planned to build a real store. We built that in 2013. In 2020, we got the opportunity to acquire an existing dealership in the Danville area, and we took it.
Before the Storm, Where Was the Business Heading?
We’d already started remodeling the Danville location to match the layout we had at our original store. That was intentional. We wanted to grow the business and make it more appealing to customers.
We were already thinking bigger before the storm ever hit.
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Walk Us Through What Happened When the Storm Hit
The damage was severe. It flattened the walls in the showroom. The parts room and shop weren’t hit nearly as hard.
Nobody was hurt, and it happened while we were closed, so that was the first thing we were thankful for. Beyond that, my first reaction was pretty simple: not now.
Our neighbors showed up that same night to help pull equipment out of the building before it got worse. The support from the community was awesome. We tore off what was left of the damaged showroom, boarded up the front, and had the doors open again in five days.
The Damage
- Showroom walls flattened
- Parts room and shop structurally intact
- No injuries (the building was closed when the storm hit)
- Reopened for business in 5 days
- Full rebuild and expansion completed in 3 months
Why Rebuild and Expand Instead of Just Patching It?
Honestly, the easy move would’ve been to patch it up, take the insurance money, and move on. We’d just taken on debt buying and remodeling the Danville location, so piling more on top wasn’t something we were eager to do.
But we took a look at the whole picture. Our old shop ceilings were nine feet, low enough that we were limited in what we could actually do in there, like servicing larger equipment inside.
Then, once we started looking into what it would take to rebuild and pull a new occupancy permit, we found that given the size of the building, we’d be required to install a firewall. That wasn’t a patch job anymore; it was a real project.
So we bit the bullet and took out a loan for the additional expansion items insurance wasn’t going to cover.
HOW REBUILDS BECOME MAJOR PROJECTS
A repair becomes a rebuild fast once code gets involved. For Hilly Ridge, pulling a new occupancy permit on a building this size triggered a firewall requirement that wasn’t part of the original structure. That single code requirement is what turned “patch it and move on” into a full rebuild-and-expand decision. It’s a detail a lot of business owners don’t find out about until they’re already mid-project.
What Did You Need From a Contractor for a Project Like This?
We needed someone with a vision for the project, who could get it done in a timely manner, and who we could trust for quality. It wasn’t just about building something back. We needed a team that understood the scope of what we were trying to achieve on a tight schedule.
Why Did You Choose Tristate for a Project This Complex?
This wasn’t our first time working with Tristate.
JDS Construction built our original store back in 2013, and when JDS merged into Tristate Buildings, that relationship came with it. Tristate handled our 2020 remodel on the Danville location, so when the storm hit, we didn’t shop around.
We had a good relationship with the project manager, and they were able to accommodate the time frame we needed.
Walk Us Through the Actual Project. What Was the Timeline?
Our goal was to start in January and be done by March. That meant working around winter weather while pulling the old roof and structure apart.
We kept our employees on through the entire project and shifted the equipment repair work over to our other location while the Danville site was under construction. The logistics of that weren’t easy, and we knew the timing was going to be tight given the scope of what we were building.
What Was the Hardest Part of Rebuilding and Expanding at the Same Time?
Keeping the business running while it happened. Winter isn’t our busiest season, but moving staff and repair work to another location takes coordination.
On top of that, we were sorting out exactly what the insurance company was liable for versus what we were responsible for, all while the calendar kept getting tighter.
Did You Ever Question Your Decision?
Sure. Mostly during the financing piece, figuring out the insurance split, and when the timing started getting tight.
But the communication with Tristate was good, and they did a great job moving the project along. The crew was always respectful. Positive interactions the whole way through.
“The communication with Tristate was good, and they did a great job moving the project along. The crew was always respectful.”
Derwin Seibel, Business Manager, Hilly Ridge Equipment
What Changed When You Reopened in the Expanded Space?
It’s more roomy, and the lighting is so much better. The whole layout works more efficiently now.
We moved service and sales to opposite sides of the building, used the attic truss space for extra parts storage we didn’t have before, and redesigned the shop with more bays for technicians and a better wash bay.
BUILT ON A LIFETIME WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY
Every Tristate project, including expansions and rebuilds like this one, comes backed by a lifetime workmanship warranty. After 35+ years in post-frame construction, that’s not a promotional line. It’s what lets business owners like Derwin commit to a bigger project with confidence that the work will hold up.
How Has the Business Performed Since?
We’ve continued to grow in sales and in new customer traffic, even through a stretch that’s been a tough climate for a lot of businesses coming out of COVID. Curb appeal helps with sales traffic.
We haven’t added much to our headcount. We’re still running with 11 employees. We’ve just gotten more efficient in a space that actually works for us. The return on the investment has been good, and as a business owner, you always want to see more growth.
What Do Customers Say About the New Building?
They love it. We get a lot of comments about the building, with people wondering who built it. The timber frame porch gets a ton of attention. People bring up the color scheme, the open layout of the showroom, and how the higher ceilings make the whole space feel bigger.
WHAT CUSTOMERS NOTICE MOST
- The timber frame porch, by far the most-mentioned detail
- The color scheme and open showroom layout
- Higher ceilings that make the space feel larger
- Better lighting throughout
What Would You Tell Another Business Owner Facing a Similar Crisis?
Don’t let difficulties get you down. Keep pressing on. Trust in God even though we don’t always understand why.
What’s Next for Hilly Ridge?
We’re not sure yet. We’re continually looking at ways to improve our offerings. We’ve recently begun building out our online parts presence. If that keeps growing, we’ll likely be looking at a warehouse expansion next.
Would You Work With Tristate Again?
I strongly recommend Tristate. They are honest, they operate with integrity, and they do what they say they’re going to do.
READY TO TURN YOUR SETBACK INTO GROWTH?]
Whether it’s storm damage, a building that’s outgrown your business, or a project you’ve been putting off, Tristate has been helping owners across Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and Virginia build what’s next for over 35 years.
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