In May, MOTM told you of plans by the Marzke family to sell their two successful businesses, Pri-Mar Petroleum and Pri Mart Quick Shops to two separate Michigan based buyers. Those sales promptly closed this summer, with the convenience stores transferring to Blarney Castle /EZ Marts and the oil company to Merle Boes Inc., headquartered at Holland.
To learn more about the 4th generation, family-owned Merle Boes Inc., MoodyOnTheMarket.com sat down with Merle Boes Chief Operating Officer Grant Guerink to discuss the firm’s major expansion into Michigan’s Great Southwest.
Guerink told us the integration of Pri-Mar into Merle Boes seemed natural and logical since the companies had followed a similar pattern, growing from local fuel oil dealers to regional suppliers.
“Merle Boes has served West Michigan for nearly a century, and expanding into St. Joseph aligns with our long-term vision of growing our presence across Michigan’s lakeshore communities. Pri-Mar is a respected, family-run operation whose values closely mirror our own. The strong local customer base, the region’s continued economic growth, and the legacy of dependable service Pri-Mar built made this a natural and exciting fit for us.”
Guerink said very little will change in the local operation, because the two companies share a heritage of customer service and dependability:
“The Pri-Mar family run culture of honesty, dependability, and personal service fits perfectly with Merle Boes’ values. Customers can expect the same local faces, the same service philosophy, and the same commitment to doing things the right way. We remain a family-owned company, and our approach to business reflects that—relationship-driven, community-focused, and built on long-term trust.”
Merle Boes primary business is providing fuel to commercial, agricultural and residential customers, as well as a wide range of lubricants to industrial and agricultural users. Guerink expects no significant changes in employment and no consolidation with other Merle Boes facilities. MB operations locally are centered at so-called ‘bulk plants’ located in St. Joseph (1207 Broad Street), Niles and Bangor. Over time, he expects there might be minor job growth, citing the recent hiring of an additional fuel delivery driver.
“Our first priority is continuity, but we do plan to bring enhanced technology, upgraded operational tools, and improved support resources to further streamline service. We’ll also be introducing several additional product brands — including Shell, Quaker Houghton, and MB Fluid Services — to give customers more choice and flexibility.
Very soon, we are planning on adding MBI Xtreme diesel to every diesel gallon sold which will increase the efficiency of customers engines and operations. In addition, our reclamation division, MB Fluid Services, offers a significant cost-saving and environmentally friendly option for manufacturers.”
Reclamation. It may not ring a bell for you… it didn’t for us. So Guerink explained…
“Reclamation, in particular, is a service many people are not familiar with. MB Fluid Services can take fluids such as hydraulic or cutting oils that are dirty or water-contaminated, then clean, dehydrate, and re-additize them so the fluid returns as good as — or even better than — new. This dramatically extends fluid life and significantly reduces a company’s waste stream.”
‘The Real Estate Question’
You can’t ‘zoom in’ on the 1207 Broad Street MB bulk plant and office location without realizing that it is now a central piece of any potential St. Joseph Riverfront tourism/residential development master plan. The site is between The Box Factory for the Arts, two condominium buildings, and Clementine’s Too, one of the region’s most successful casual eateries, and across the Morrison Channel from the gigantic Pier 33 Marina.
Guerink says that while MB is not a real estate company, they realize there may be a ‘higher’ use for their Broad Street property in the future.
“We recognize the importance of the Broad Street location within the St. Joseph community, especially given its visibility and proximity to tourism and waterfront development. With Merle Boes taking on only the wholesale portion of the Pri-Mar business, we are currently using a portion of the office space and all the warehouse and bulk plant facility space. Over the next couple of years, as we implement new technologies and further refine our operational needs, we will continue evaluating how the property can best serve both our team and the community.
At this stage, no decisions have been made regarding relocation or redevelopment, and we want to be thoughtful and transparent as we consider long-term possibilities. We look forward to engaging with the City/community as we assess options and determine what the future of the property should look like.”
Customers may reach Merle Boes Inc. through their familiar former Pri Mar phone number, 269-983-7314 or the MB corporate office in Holland, 616-392-7036 or via the website, www.merleboes.com
MoodyOnTheMarket.com has reached out to the buyers of the Pri Mart convenience stores as well, and we hope soon to offer a similar update on their vision for the future.
By Gayle Olson, MOTM Contributor
