Clayco building new facility for O & W Inc

A new corporate headquarters for O & W Inc will nearly double the company's space and provide for warehousing more than 350,000 cases of beer. Clayco Construction Co has begun the design-build of the single-story tilt-up warehouse and distribution center, with the building expected to open in early 2003.

The new 101,500-square-foot distributorship is located at McGregor and William avenues in Ypsilanti MI. It will feature 45,000 square feet of controlled temperature warehouse, 5,000 square feet of draught coolers, a 38,500-sq-ft staging and distribution area with wireless technology, and a 13,000-sq-ft sales and administrative office. Clayco Detroit will manage the design-build project.

O & W will consolidate its three existing locations and move its 125 employees into the new facility. The company currently distributes more than three million cases of beer annually throughout a 3.5-county area in southeast Michigan. O & W distributes Miller Brewing Co products, which account for about 75% of the company's annual sales. Other products distributed by O & W include Heineken, Sam Adams, Corona, Molson, and Mike's Hard Lemonade.

This new facility will provide space for all 30 of the company's trucks to be housed indoors and will feature a drive-through capability for loading and unloading as the trucks pull into the building. The location will also include a vehicle maintenance area, vehicle washdown area, sign-making area, lunchroom, and conference rooms.