Bell’s Brewery is celebrated across the country, with a presence in over 40 states.
Founder Larry Bell opened Kalamazoo Brewing Co. in 1985 and has been a leader in the craft beer revolution ever since.
His vision was realized with a beer garden, tap room and live music venue. But the West Michigan beermaker has much bigger plans.
Bell’s was sold to Japanese multinational group Kirin Holdings Company almost three years ago. Bell’s beer will soon be available in every state except for Hawaii.
Cross Moceri and Peter Cipriano set out to make a better potato chip. Cross and Peters Company was founded in 1930, the precursor to Better Made. Of 20-plus original potato chip companies from that era in Detroit, Better Made is the sole survivor.
For nearly a century the snack food staple has lived up to its “Special” moniker. Aside from potato chips, Better Made offers several other sorts of savory snacks.
Popcorn, pretzels and party mix, are just a few. More than a dozen states carry their products today.
Bob’s Big Boy originated in Glendale, California then migrated to the Midwest. In 1952, Elias brothers John, Louis and Fred owned Hazel Park’s Dixie Drive-In, which got approved as Big Boy’s first franchise.
Elias Brothers grew Big Boy into a behemoth. By 1964, they had 100 restaurants throughout Michigan and Ohio bearing the Elias Brothers Big Boy® name. In 1987, they bought the Big Boy chain and moved operations to Warren, where it stayed until 2000.
Big Boy Restaurant Group is now based in Southfield. The chain is famous for its Big Boy burger and Slim Jim.
Bissell Inc. dates back to 1876 when Melville Bissell invented and patented his one-of-a-kind sweeper to clean sawdust at the family's Grand Rapids crockery.
People quickly inquired about his invention, and that would be the beginning of a remarkable rise. .
His wife Anna later helped Bissell break into the mainstream. Today, the company’s corporate office is located in Walker, right outside of Grand Rapids.
Ex-General Motors executive Walter Chrysler and his cohorts created Chrysler Corporation. They opened for business in 1925.
Chrysler emerged as a cutting-edge automaker. Their aim was to build affordable “luxury” vehicles known for innovative, top-flight engineering like the Town & Country, Le Baron and New Yorker.
Chrysler was headquartered in Highland Park until 1992, when it moved to Auburn Hills. Parent company Stellantis formed in 2021, after Fiat Chrysler merged with French conglomerate PSA Group.
The Auburn Hills automaker builds iconic brands Dodge and Jeep, among others.
In 1889, Hamilton Carhartt would start Carhartt, Inc. His durable workwear was originally made for manual laborers.
In recent years, Carhartt has gained a foothold in the fashion world. In 2019, Carhartt accrued more than $1 billion in total revenue.
Carhartt’s home base is just west of Detroit in Dearborn.
The history of Domino’s Pizza can be traced to Ypsilanti in 1960. Two decades later, they would launch into the stratosphere.
As home pizza delivery sales skyrocketed, they would lead the way. Domino’s dominated the decade, with 5,000 stores worldwide by 1990.
The Ann Arbor-area piemaker has topped the world in pizza sales six years straight. and they are on pace to keep that streak going.
Faygo soft drinks are a cult favorite both in and out of state. Russian immigrants Ben and Perry Feigenson would begin the venture in 1907.
In the early 1920s, Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works became known simply as Faygo. And the rest is history.
Ford Motor Company “has put the world on wheels” since 1903. American industrialist Henry Ford led a fundamental transformation in human transportation at the time.
The Blue Oval went on to become one of the world’s most recognized logos. After 120 years, Ford is still going strong,
General Motors is the No. 1 automaker in America. GM boasts beloved brands Cadillac and Corvette. GM corporate offices are located at the Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit.
When you think of baby food, you think of Gerber. For close to a century, Gerber Products Company has set the standard.
Dan and Dorothy Gerber discovered that straining fruits and vegetables could be easily done at their canning business in Fremont. New parents at the plant asked for samples, and the legacy of Gerber® baby foods was born.