About Us
The secret to a business’ longevity is really no secret at all: produce a top-quality product, offer unparalleled customer service and evolve with changing times. Watkins, a NEBCO company, continues to put these concepts into practice, and as a result, we’ve been providing Omaha’s commercial and residential builders with building supplies for over 60 years.
Watkins has a large selection of high quality products that can make your dream a reality. We manufacture over 1,300 concrete block items in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. We distribute clay face brick, manufactured and natural stone, glass block and many other residential and commercial construction products.
Stop by our new indoor and outdoor designer showrooms for outdoor living ideas and new home inspirations.
History
In 1934, J.B. Watkins, founder of J.B. Watkins Lumber Company in 1889, purchased the Besser Manufacturing Company. His son, Charles Watkins, operated the company at 4215 “R” Street and the name was changed to Watkins Concrete Block Company in 1941. The Watkins operations were temporarily closed due to World War II and a notable decline in local construction. In 1946, Charles Watkins bought the stock from his father and incorporated the company. Watkins Concrete Block Company, Inc., steadily increased business and achieved great success in the Omaha area.
Like other NEBCO companies, Watkins’ focus on progress kept the company active in acquiring new technology to remain competitive. In the mid 1980s, the company moved to its current location at 14306 Giles Road in southwest Omaha to take advantage of Omaha’s westward expansion, increased demands for its products and to reduce the distance between the plant and raw material sites.
When NEBCO purchased Watkins in 1988, it acquired a highly computerized automated block plant capable of producing up to 30,000 blocks per day. Today, Watkins is part of a network of block manufacturers throughout the state owned by NEBCO.
About NEBCO
NEBCO has been part of Nebraska and the region’s history for over a century. NEBCO traces its roots to Abel Construction Company, founded in 1908 by George P. Abel, Sr. Today, NEBCO is a fourth generation, family-owned and operated business. With over 1,200 employees, NEBCO has grown to become one of Nebraska’s largest privately owned firms.
NEBCO’s operations span the state of Nebraska and supply the construction industry with the materials needed to construct buildings, streets and highways. The company’s business interests also include mining, finance, real estate and recreation development, agriculture, transportation, railroading, warehousing and philanthropy.
As Nebraska has grown in the last century, so has NEBCO, building Nebraska from the ground up.