MILWAUKEE (BRAIN) — Midwest distributor Olympic Supply Company has completed the move to a new facility nearly double the size of its old space. The new building has LED lights throughout, skylights, energy efficiencies and an extra four feet of ceiling height. The upstairs houses Olympic's office and wheel building facility.
The new warehouse and office is on the Oak Leak Bike trail in Milwaukee and roughly 3.5 miles from the old facility.
"We haven't moved since 1964," Olympic's Brian Goniu said. "My great grandfather and grandfather built the last building in 1964. My father and grandfather did an addition in 1998 and just outgrew the space. It had gotten to the point where the cost of the addition to the building would exceed the value of the building after the project."
Goniu said the new building required a lot of work as barely any of the furnaces worked, the copper plumbing pipes had burst and there was hardly any working electricity. "Our crew worked around the clock and the salesmen spent their weekends helping," Goniu said.
The Goniu family owns the building, including Don Goniu's grandson Brian, son Paul, and his wife Doreen. The family closed on the building Jan. 21 and moved in March 3. The first shipments out of the new facility were on March 20. The company didn't close during the transition, with orders going out on Friday at the old building and on the following Monday from the new building.
"It was absolute madness. Our shelving was delayed, trucks were breaking down, the telecommunication people were losing their minds and somehow we still pulled it off," Brian Goniu said. "It was definitely one of the most difficult projects we have ever done. From the time we purchased the building to the day we moved in we had CABDA Expo, Midwest Bike Expo, the passing of Chris Kegel, and the passing of Doreen's father. To say it was a hectic 60 days is really an understatement."
In addition to the move, Olympic has hired Steve Federspiel, the former manager of Emery's Cycle and Fitness in Milwaukee, in operations. Federspiel has worked in the industry for more than nine years at retail.
Don Goniu, who founded Olympic with his father, died last year at the age of 89.
So far this year Brian Goniu said Olympic has picked up some brands, redesigned its house packaging and thanks to the move will be able to operate more efficiently.
"The first quarter has had its ups and downs," he said, pointing to warm temperatures in February, horrible weather in March and snow in April. "As a Midwest distributor for the past 69 years, we have grown accustomed to industry ups and downs. We adapt quickly and make the changes that need to be made.
"Everything is changing so quickly and I think our dealers are excited that we have kept our old-fashioned traditions and applied them to our newest business model," Goniu added.
Olympic's new address is:
7528 North Teutonia Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53209
The company can be reached at 414-461-8380.
