Announcing SkipperBud’s Dixie Highway Service Center

Published: Monday, September 7, 2020

SkipperBud’s buys an Antique Mall? What? Why? To create a boat service center for Genesee and Oakland County, Michigan, boaters.

In June, SkipperBud’s acquired the former Great Midwestern Antique Emporium on three acres in Oakland County, Michigan. The property—located at 5233 Dixie Highway, Waterford Township, MI—will serve as a boat service center and storage facility. Previously an antique mall under single ownership for nearly 40 years, SkipperBud’s made this purchase to better serve customers in the Oakland County region.

The SkipperBud’s team is excited to add this service facility to the Detroit metro area locations. There are already five other locations in eastern Michigan, including SkipperBud’s – Detroit (two locations nearby each other at Belle Maer Harbor and Mac Ray Harbor); SkipperBud’s – Cass Lake Marina (Oakland County); SkipperBud’s – Lake Fenton Marina (Oakland/Genesee County border); and SkipperBud’s – Bay City Marina and Boatyard (on the Saginaw River).

“We tried buying this property last fall and missed out. The property went on the market again in April; due to COVID-19, the winning bid from last fall fell apart. We quickly moved on contracting and closing on the property,” said Mark Ellerbrock, SkipperBud’s Vice President. SkipperBud’s closed on this property on May 20, 2020.

The property has 185 feet of easy access frontage on Dixie Highway and sits on three acres. The buildings have nearly 7,000 square feet of indoor space that will be remodeled to accommodate boat service and rigging. The remaining property is gated and fenced and will be used as a boat storage facility according to Ellerbrock. The facility will be operational for this fall’s winterization and storage season.

In Waterford Township, the Dixie Highway service center is located strategically between SkipperBud’s full service location at Cass Lake Marina and the full service location at Lake Fenton Marina. This new service center will be a convenient addition for Oakland and Genesee County boaters. www.skipperbuds.com

SkipperBud’s is a family owned marine business, specializing in boat sales, service, storage, and marina operation since 1959. With locations throughout the Midwest, SkipperBud’s mission is to “Deliver the Boating Dream.”