A Houston business is expanding and relocating to the Houston Industrial Park off West Highway 17.
Online Metal Supply began occupying last week the 30,000 square foot building that is on the north end of the park, which is on North Industrial Drive. The business, which began selling metals over the internet in 2001, is operated by Steve and Diane Pierce and their son, Kirk.
“We have been working on this project since December of last year,” said Rob Harrington, director of economic development for the City of Houston. “We are very excited about this opportunity to help a local established business expand their operations and look forward to the growth that this move will create for the community and the company.”
The building was owned by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Houston. It was first occupied by a countertop manufacturing business and later in 2014 through September 2015 by Dairymen’s Best Creamery, which was a dairy products manufacturer. The building has been empty almost four years. With the occupancy, there is one additional lot remaining on the northern part of the park, which includes two buildings occupied by Durham Co., which manufactures primarily electrical enclosure boxes; Houston Sportswear, a sewing operation; and Opportunity Sheltered Industries, the county’s sheltered workshop. The city’s last water tower and well were constructed there. Another industrial park acreage — recently acquired by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Houston — is ready for occupancy east of the fairgrounds on North U.S. 63.
Online Metal Supply is a supplier of cut to size materials in standard sizes and lengths that are shipped via common carrier.
It buys large quantities of all types of materials, brings them into its warehouse for processing, which includes cutting, shearing and sawing to specific sizes, inspecting, cleaning and packaging of the material for shipment.