Ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrates Imperial Beverage Company’s 12,000-square-foot Traverse City warehouse

October 5, 2023

State-of-the-art facility latest indicator of company’s growth and success as it marks 90 years in business


TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Imperial Beverage Company, a Michigan, family-owned beverage distributor, today celebrated the grand opening of its 12,000-square-foot warehouse at 1430 Industry Drive in Traverse City. The facility will help the company accommodate an expanding portfolio of suppliers, customers, and continue creating job opportunities to support the communities it proudly serves.


“We are thrilled to officially open our doors in Traverse City with this state-of-the-art warehouse in such an amazing community,” said Joe Cekola, president of Imperial Beverage Company. “This expansive new facility is evidence of the hard work, passion, and innovation that drive our employees, help generate jobs, support other small businesses, improve the local economy, and introduce more options for consumers across Michigan. The timing of this grand opening couldn’t be better as Imperial celebrates 90 years in the business of helping our retail and supplier partners, employees, consumers, and communities succeed.”


Imperial Beverage Company started 90 years ago, in 1933, when the Berry family established the business at the end of Prohibition. The Cekola family bought the company in 1984. They have grown it from a one-county Pabst distributor into a statewide beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic wholesaler serving every county in Michigan, every week, all year long, with four locations in Kalamazoo, Livonia, Marquette, and now Traverse City.


Imperial entered the Traverse City market in 2001 with one local sales representative and a delivery truck out of Kalamazoo. Strong relationships and an outstanding local craft beverage portfolio evidence the operation's success. The region now supports 23 employees operating out of the Traverse City facility that covers Northern Michigan from coast to coast.


Imperial’s new warehouse is located about four miles south of downtown Traverse City. Thursday’s ribbon cutting drew state, local, and county dignitaries.


“Thanks to Michigan’s independent and family-owned beer and wine distributors like Imperial Beverage Company, our state is among the Top 5 in beer production, with over 300 small brewers and brew pubs and 140 wineries,” said State Senator John Damoose. “Imperial Beverage’s new Traverse City warehouse demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to creating jobs, supporting small businesses, and giving back to local communities. I look forward to seeing Imperial excel in the Grand Traverse Region and beyond as it continues to help create growth, choices, and competition.”


Imperial Beverage Company is Michigan’s only statewide beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverage distributor. They boast a portfolio of over 7,000 SKUs, offering something for every customer. Imperial has 342 total employees, including specialized support and sales staff who live in the markets they serve.



Detroit News: Celebrating Michigan’s Family-Owned Beer and Wine Distributors

By Rebecca Stow • June 23, 2026
On June 23, National Family-Owned and Operated Businesses Day offers an opportunity to recognize the local companies that form the backbone of Michigan’s economy. Among them are the state’s beer and wine distributors—independent, family-owned businesses that have been serving their communities for decades. These are multigenerational operations rooted in Michigan communities, where leadership is often passed from one generation to the next. Their longevity reflects not only business success, but a deep commitment to the people and places they serve. When I began my work with the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association two decades ago, the industry looked very different. Today, Michigan consumers enjoy an unprecedented variety of choices, supported by advanced logistics, compliance systems, and strong retail partnerships. That evolution has been driven in large part by family-owned distributors who continue to invest in their people, infrastructure and communities. Their local ownership gives them a unique understanding of the retailers and consumers they serve. It also means decisions are made with a long-term perspective—focused not just on growth, but on sustainability and community impact. Thoughtful alcohol policy helps ensure a fair and competitive marketplace, protects public health and safety, and allows businesses of all sizes to thrive. By maintaining strong relationships with lawmakers and industry partners, Michigan’s beer and wine distributors have helped modernize laws while preserving the structure and accountability of the proven three-tier system. As we recognize family-owned businesses across the state this June, it is worth celebrating the role Michigan’s beer and wine distributors have played for decades and will continue to play in the years ahead. Their strength lies not only in their ability to adapt, but in the values that have guided them from the beginning: local ownership, strong relationships, and a commitment to doing business the right way. Spencer Nevins is president of the Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association in Lansing.

Mid-Michigan beer distributor celebrates 65 years in business, three generations of family leadership

By Rebecca Stow • May 4, 2026
OWOSSO, Mich. – Main Beverage Company marks 65 years in business this year, celebrating three generations of family leadership and a legacy rooted in mid-Michigan.

Ypsilanti beer distributor partners on limited-edition release for Ann Arbor Summer Festival

By Rebecca Stow • April 14, 2026
YPSILANTI, Mich. – Local, family-owned beer distributor O&W Inc. in Ypsilanti is celebrating its collaboration with Michigan-based Griffin Claw Brewing Company to develop a limited-edition Session IPA for the upcoming Ann Arbor Summer Festival (A2SF).