‘America’s #1 Metals Service Center’ Building $24 Million Cedar Rapids Facility

A business whose name came from two brothers who started the business 74 years ago has grown to more than 70 locations in 13 states. The company's first Iowa facility will be in Cedar Rapids.

In 1885, Louis Glick was just one year old when his family moved from Hungary to the United States. Louis Glick was in his early 30s in 1916 when he moved to Jackson, Michigan, and started Glick Iron & Metal, a scrap iron business.

On June 1, 1948, Louis' sons Alvin (who went by Al) and Robert Glick founded Alro Steel in Jackson, Michigan. "Alro" was derived from the co-owners' first names. That first location was a garage they rented from their dad. One that was adjacent to Glick Iron & Metal.

Within four years, Alro Steel outgrew its original space. They've been expanding ever since. The company, which celebrated its 74th birthday last week, now has over 70 locations in 13 states. A large new facility in Cedar Rapids will mark their first Iowa location.

According to the City of Cedar Rapids, Alro Steel received a building permit in May for a $24 million facility at 9620 Earhart Lane SW. The location is on the south side of Wright Brothers Blvd, just east of I-380.

Last fall, the Corridor Business Journal reported the new Alro Steel building in Cedar Rapids would be for an office, warehouse, and distribution facility. The nearly 200,000 square foot facility is expected to create around 40 new jobs.

According to their website, "from the everyday to the hard-to-find, Alro stocks metals, industrial supplies, and plastics." The video below indicates the company is 'America's #1 Metals Service Center'.