New Build-To-Suit for Columbia Distributing Unveiled

PORTLAND, Oregon – Columbia Distributing, along with partners Meritage and Trammell Crow Company (TCC), announce that Canby, Oregon will become home to Columbia’s new Portland Metro Area warehouse. The approx. 530,000-square-foot facility, located at SE 1^st Ave. and S. Walnut in Canby, will consolidate the beverage distributor’s three current locations situated on Portland’s Swan Island, NW Yeon Avenue and NW Guam Street. Completion is scheduled for fall 2020.

“In addition to the optimal space and routing efficiencies Canby offers, we’re so impressed with the community, the potential partnership opportunities and the promise for creating great local jobs,” said Chris Steffanci, president and CEO at Columbia Distributing. “We see no less than 200 positions working out of this location and we’re eager to fill any openings before we relocate next fall. It’s an incredibly exciting time for us.”

Jamie Stickel, City of Canby’s Economic Development Director, shares the same enthusiasm for Columbia’s move. “I am overjoyed to have Columbia Distributing join the Canby Pioneer Industrial Park. Columbia’s commitment to local job creation and community engagement makes them an ideal business to add to our robust industrial park.”

The facility, which sits on 43 acres, is being developed through a joint venture between Meritage and TCC. Tualatin-based Perlo Construction has been selected as the general contractor and Portland based VLMK Engineering + Design has provided the project design and permitting services.

“We are pleased to partner with Trammell Crow Company to develop this state-of-the-art, Class A distribution facility for Columbia Distributing”, added Jared Halperin, a Managing Director at Meritage who leads the firm’s real estate investment strategy. “We look forward to advancing Columbia’s strategic growth objectives and driving further economic growth to the City of Canby.”

“Columbia Distributing, Meritage, and their teams have been fantastic to work with on this build-to-suit development,” stated Steve Sieber, Principal with Trammell Crow Company’s Portland office.  “Columbia Distributing and Trammell Crow Company both have long histories of serving their customers well and we think this purpose driven development will help continue those traditions.”

Allen Patterson, SIOR, SR. VP of Capacity Commercial Group and Terry Tolls of T.N. Tolls Company represented Trammell Crow Company and the sellers in the sale of the land.

About Columbia Distributing 
Since 1935, Columbia Distributing has helped build some of the best known brands in the beverage business. Today Columbia Distributing and its 3,000+ employees service over 22,000 retail customers covering more than 171,000 square miles in Oregon, Washington and California. Columbia’s success is based on the deep-rooted tradition of delivering quality products, timely service and a genuine concern for customers’ needs. This is achieved by providing ongoing, sustainable opportunities and growth for its employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and communities. For more information on Columbia Distributing, including employment opportunities, please visit www.coldist.com. 

About Meritage
Meritage® is a fundamentally-oriented investment firm with assets under management in excess of $9 billion as of December 31, 2018.  Meritage invests in public and private equity, credit, and real estate and currently has 48 employees in offices located in Greenwich, New York City, and San Francisco.