Built one door at a time
North Atlantic began when the Humphrey family purchased Horner Millwork in 1980, believing that a winning company is one customers can easily do business with. From humble roots as an interior door prehanging shop in Somerset, Massachusetts, we’ve grown into a national millwork, commercial openings and appliance distributor serving one-step, two-step and retail channels.
1998Present
Same address, a lot more building
Drag across the photo to see how our Somerset campus on Grand Army of the Republic Highway has grown, from a handful of buildings to a 300,000 sq ft plant that runs largely on solar power.
A door shop in Somerset
Before North Atlantic, there was Horner Millwork and a man who believed in hard work.
- 1948
Horner Millwork is founded
William Horner, who arrived from Belfast with $100, starts Horner Millwork selling prehung doors.
- 1978
Rebuilt after the fire
A fire destroys two-thirds of the property as neighbors and firefighters look on. Horner rebuilds.
The Humphrey family era begins
A family buys a business and starts building something bigger.
- 1980
The Humphrey family buys Horner
The Humphrey family purchases Horner Millwork, then an interior door prehanging shop in Somerset, believing a winning company is one customers can easily do business with.
- 1980s
Into commercial and kitchens
Horner buys Builders and Contractors Supply (today Horner Commercial Sales), starts selling kitchen cabinetry and opens a Southboro office.
- 1991
Stairs join the family
Cooper Stairworks and Phoenix Millwork are acquired, and a Pembroke office opens. Before CNC machines, Cooper routed stair stringers by hand in jigs like this one, still on display in the shop.
- 1992
North Atlantic Corp. is established
Horner acquires NAMCO and Winter Building Products, and North Atlantic Corp. is formed to bring the companies together.
- 1994
Remodelers Outlet opens
On April 30, our retail store opens in the Durfee Union Millplace in Fall River as Bargains-Closeouts, the business that grew into Remodelers Outlet. The Somerset plant adds 30,000 sq ft and the Architectural Services Group is formed.
Growing up and growing out
New regions, new brands, and a recession that tested everything.
- 2000
Heading south
HomeSouth opens in Savannah, GA and South Florida Millwork in Naples, FL. Design Door in Medford, MA is acquired.
- 2002–03
Cleary and Captiva
Martin Millwork and Cleary Millwork are acquired and merged with NAMCO. The plant grows to 215,000 sq ft and Captiva Custom is introduced.
- 2007–09
Through the Great Recession
We right-size, close two facilities, acquire Saginaw Millwork in New York and open an Albany sales office.
- 2010
Remodelers Outlet grand reopening
Remodelers Outlet moves into a bigger home at the Tower Mill in Fall River and celebrates with a ribbon cutting and a grand reopening for the neighborhood.
- 2013
Home Genius and Barì
Horner acquires Home Genius in Swansea, MA and launches the Barì cabinetry brand.
- 2015
A 300,000 sq ft, solar-powered plant
A 45,000 sq ft expansion brings Somerset to 300,000 sq ft, with solar panels supplying about 90% of the plant’s electricity.
- 2017
Wholesale Doors
Cleary acquires Wholesale Doors of Watertown, MA.
- 2018
Central Woodwork and CenWood
North Atlantic acquires Central Woodwork and CenWood Appliance, based in Nashville and Memphis.
Coast to mountains
Robots in the warehouse, digital tools for customers, and a new home in Colorado.
- 2020–22
Open through COVID-19
As an essential business, we stay open and keep customers supplied through supply chain and labor disruptions.
- Recent
Robotics and digital platforms
We invest in robotic warehousing, KUKA robots and automated door machining lines, and launch Cleary 365, Cenwoody365 and Captiva BUILD.
- 2022
Van Millwork
Van Millwork, founded in 1967, joins the family.
- 2025
Architectural Concepts
The Colorado door manufacturer and distributor joins North Atlantic in March.
- 2025
Mountain High Appliance
The five-location Colorado appliance retailer joins in October.
The next chapter is being written now
Want to be part of it? We’re hiring across our companies, and we’re always open to talking with owners who want their business to keep growing.