Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, a leading economic development firm in Michigan’s Indian Country, announced today it has collaborated with two of its portfolio companies, Zip Xpress and Green Transportation, to acquire Great Lakes Warehousing in Holland, Michigan and 156 acres of surrounding property, much of it undeveloped land that could be used for future business expansion.

Waséyabek is the non-gaming economic development company of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Tribe based in southwest Michigan. Zip Xpress and Green Transportation are owned by Waséyabek.

This transaction involves two separate acquisitions. Zip Xpress and Green Transportation have purchased Great Lakes Warehousing from Roger, Mike, and Tom Van Wyk. The deal transfers ownership and daily operation of the company’s 315,000 square foot warehousing space located at 899 Interchange Drive just southeast of Holland.

Waséyabek has purchased the land where Great Lakes Warehousing is located from All Properties Unlimited. The largely undeveloped land is in Allegan County near the junction of I-196 and M-40. Terms of the two sales are not being disclosed.

Aerial view of the acquired property, which is located near the junction of I-196 and M-40 in Allegan County, Michigan.

Roger, Mike, and Tom Van Wyk founded Great Lakes Warehousing in 1976 and have grown it steadily over the past 50 years. Mike Van Wyk will stay on as a consultant after the transaction.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our families but it’s also a little bittersweet for us,” said Mike Van Wyk. “We have enjoyed serving our customers for nearly five decades and we’re proud of the consistent role we have filled in the community. However, we’re ready to move on but we wanted to find a buyer who would purchase the land and set a course for future operation of the warehousing business. We’re thrilled that Waséyabek expressed interest and we look forward to watching them be a positive economic partner in the community.”

With this acquisition, Waséyabek’s portfolio of non-gaming investments now stands at 32 entities, encompassing more than 650 employees. It also further diversifies the types of industries represented by companies the NHBP Tribe owns.

DWH, a Waséyabek-owned advisory firm, was instrumental in conducting the due diligence associated with these latest transactions. Managing Partner Ben Borisch and the DWH team have partnered with Zip and Green management since 2021, helping the two companies to consistently outperform the market. Going forward, DWH will continue to provide management oversight to Zip, Green, and now Great Lakes Warehousing.