Walstrom Marine earlier this month acquired Grand Bay Marine, expanding its presence in the Great Lakes region. Founded in 1997 and operated by Liz Carney and her family, Grand Bay Marine has locations in Traverse City and Charlevoix, Mich.
According to a statement, Grand Bay Marine is the country’s largest retailer for Regal Marine and offers a wide range of brands including StarCraft, Godfrey, Bayliner, Robalo and Berkshire.
Founded in 1946, Walstrom Marine has locations in Harbor Springs, Traverse City, Bay Harbor, Charlevoix and Cheboygan, Mich., It is a dealer for Tiara Yachts, Pursuit Boats, Sea Ray, Chris-Craft, Nauticstar, Crest and Lund.
“We are honored to welcome Grand Bay Marine to the Walstrom Marine family,” Tom Ervin, president of Walstrom Marine, said in the statement. “Grand Bay Marine’s dedicated staff and expertise in the marine industry will be an asset to Walstrom Marine and all our Northern Michigan clients. With the addition of the Regal brand to the broader Walstrom Marine business, we continue to build our offering and drive our long-term strategy to be the premier marine operator across the Great Lakes.”
Carney and her husband will assist in the ownership transition. Their daughter, Rachael Milliman, will be general manager of the Grand Bay Marine location in Traverse City, Mich., while Ervin will oversee the overall Grand Bay Marine business. Grand Bay Marine’s 38 employees will remain with the organization.
“As we thought about our succession, finding a partner who shared our passion and commitment to our customers was critical,” Carney said in the statement. “Walstrom Marine is undoubtedly the best fit to carry our company forward. I’m so thankful to our wonderful employees and loyal customers, and I know they will be well served for years to come.”
