Jack Kinney’s relentless pursuit of business has hit pay-dirt once again with the attraction of a major wholesale distributor to the marketplace of Michigan’s Great Southwest, setting up shop in one of his industrial buildings on Tennnis Court in St. Joseph Charter Township. Grand Rapids-based Behler-Young will establish its 18th branch there soon to serve the HVAC/R contractor markets throughout the Midwest.
Kinney tells me that he has signed a lease with the third-generation, family-owned business for the 14,000 square foot warehouse building located at 321 Tennis Court across from the South Shore Health & Racquet Club off of Maiden Lane. It is also Kinney’s 18th building lease in the local market.
Behler-Young already has 17 other branch locations scattered across Michigan and Northwest Ohio and employs more than 210 people across those branches as well as at corporate offices in Grand Rapids and a 150,000 square foot Distribution Center in Kensginton Park.
Behler-Young has been a major provider of business and technical training for contractors and thousands have attended classes held throughout Michigan. They have created a world class system of distribution and delivery capabilities and for the past 25 years a network of Bryant dealers that provide sales, installation and service to businesses and homeowners through their service area.
John E. Behler and Wayne H. (Brig) Young grew up in Lowell, Michigan, became life long friends and founded the company in 1926. After returning from serving during World War II, Jack Behler and Dick Young took over the family business. Now in the third-generatioon, the company is under the leadership of Doug Young, who has continued a commitment to the ethics, quality, excellence and teamwork that have characterized the company since its inception.
Steve Nagel is Western Regional Manager, and he is in the process of prepping the building for Behler-Young’s takeover. The building will be remodeled to accommodate a showroom and distribution center as well as a training center.
Kinney Properties had previously leased that space to Green Earth Electronics Recycling, but they recently moved to new quarters at 4200 Niles Road in St. Joseph.
Behler-Young provides wholesale distribution of critical parts for a broad array of furnace and air conditioner manufacturers to industry trades people. They are a dominant player in their arena, serving thousands of professional companies in the HVAC/R service industry across the Midwestern United States, representing more than 300 suppliers.
In addition to their vast network of associates, Behler-Young provides Hydronics Specialists, Customer Assurance Representatives and both Residential & Commercial Quoters.
In addition to the new St. Joseph operation, the firm has sites in Ann Arbor, Comstock Park, Flint, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Livonia, Macomb, Muskegon, New Hudson, Pontiac, Saginaw, Taylor, Toledo, Traverse City, and Warren.
The Behler-Young website shows several job openings at the new St. Joseph center including Branch Supervisor and Counter Sales Clerks. You can learn more about those and the company online at this link: https://www.behler-young.com/
