Coastal Farm & Ranch
 | |
 A Coastal outlet in Mount Vernon, Washington | |
| Company type | Privately held |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1963 in Albany, Oregon, U.S. |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Number of locations | 21 (2024) |
Area served | Pacific Northwest, U.S. |
| Owner | Nolan Capital |
| Website | coastalcountry |
Coastal Farm & Ranch is a retail organization based in the United States with 21 outlets serving the Pacific Northwest. The company focuses on providing products for home improvement, agricultural and outdoor needs, tools, and apparel aimed primarily at rural consumers. Established in 1963, it remained family-run until its 2022 acquisition by Nolan Capital, a private equity firm. In 2023, Coastal combined operations with C-A-L Ranch, a retailer with 33 stores located in the Mountain states.
History
The business began as Coastal Farm and Home Supply in June 1963 when Maurice Hale launched it as part of a nationwide wholesale farm supply network. Hale grew the enterprise to three locations within Oregon’s Willamette Valley before selling it to Missouri-based Orscheln Farm & Home. In 1990, Buzz Wheeler, formerly managing a farm store in Nebraska, purchased Coastal through a leveraged buyout and expanded the chain to six stores over ten years, including its first expansion outside Oregon into Yakima, Washington.
In August 2002, Coastal upgraded its original Albany site by opening a new 40,000 square-foot store combined with a warehouse facility. Earlier, in 1998, the company had bought foreclosed county fairgrounds property in Albany for $2.2 million and parceled parts of it for other retailers like Costco. The chain entered the Portland metro area in 2004 by launching a store in Oregon City at a location formerly occupied by a department store. The acquisition of three Big R stores from Central Oregon in 2014 increased the total number of stores to 15 and raised employee count to around 350.
From 2014 through 2024, Coastal added six more outlets to strengthen its position against national farm supply competitors expanding along Interstate 5. Wheeler credited this growth to emerging trends such as backyard poultry keeping, which was supported through educational events and promotional chick giveaways designed to attract suburban shoppers.
In December 2021, Wheeler sold controlling interest to Nolan Capital, transferring ownership to this California-based private equity group. The subsequent year saw Coastal merge with Idaho’s C-A-L Ranch, which operates 33 stores across several Mountain states. Although now part of a combined entity with 54 locations, both brands continue to function independently. Founded in 1959 by the Murphy family members, C-A-L Ranch has established itself as a prominent retailer serving rural markets throughout the Western United States.
Locations
As of 2024, Coastal Farm & Ranch maintains 21 stores throughout Oregon and Washington. Some locations feature veterinary clinics branded Good Neighbor Vet that provide both onsite and mobile animal care services. Meanwhile, C-A-L Ranch operates 33 outlets across Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah offering farm machinery, sporting goods, tools, automotive supplies, and apparel customized for local customer needs. The corporate headquarters and primary distribution hub remain situated in Albany, Oregon.