ZEELAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, May 9, 2026) – To quote a famous line uttered by Frank Morgan in the iconic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz:” … “Not so fast, NOT SO FAST!”
On Thursday, a deal was announced in which operations of Howard Miller would be transferred from family ownership into the hands of long-time company officials Jim O’Keefe and Andrew Christmann, joined by investors JC Huizenga, Bill McKendry and Phil Poel. No terms were disclosed, and family members will remain “integrally involved” as advisors.
Last July, the Zeeland-based clock maker announced plans to shutter operations in 2026, a century after its founding, citing a various of “market influences.” It sold off equipment in a February auction, held a close-out sale in October at its Main Avenue headquarters, and looked to clear out inventory over an 18-month span.
This deal will not only restart operations in Zeeland, but is expected to impact nearly 200 employees at facilities in Traverse City and North Carolina. Officials of the relaunched Howard Miller company say that the firm will begin with a “focused strategy” of a curated offering of most-recognized designs, while ramping up production of new and updated collections to be introduced by the end of the year.
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