Prior to the end of Prohibition, Earl C. Smith, a WWI veteran, started a trucking business and distributed newspapers, like the Detroit Free Press along with non-alcohol beverages. and other products. Later, he established the Earl C. Smith Motor Freight Co., acting as a common carrier for the transportation of freight and commodities across many states in the mid-west.

The Noble Experiment, Prohibition ended in 1933 and Earl Smith Distributing Co. was the fourth wholesale license issued by the State of Michigan for the distribution of alcohol beverages. We built and maintained warehouses in Bad Axe and Port Huron, MI. The Stroh Brewery, Detroit, MI was the first to appoint the company as a distributor of Stroh’s Beer. In 1936, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, MO appointed the company as it’s distributor of Budweiser Beer.

1946, after WWII had ended, Earl Smith’s son, Robert A., a war veteran joined the company to help manage operations. Over the next several years, retail businesses kept popping up, business grew. In 1950, the company was reorganized. The Bad Axe market area was sold and became Smith Distributing. The freight company was sold to private owners, but maintained the Earl C. Smith Motor Freight Co. trade name in Port Huron.

Robert took over as president of the company in 1955. Earl Smith died, July of 1959.

Robert E. Smith, Robert’s son joined the business in January of 1973 following a tour of duty in the U. S. Navy. Warehouse and office facilities located on 4^th Street in Port Huron were re-located to a new building constructed in the recently developed Port Huron Industrial Park in 1976 at 1730 Dove Street.

Robert E. “Bob” Smith became president of the company in 1985. The 1980’s saw a series of industry consolidations and for the the company, 1986 was the year of acquisitions. A purchase of the St. Clair county operations of Petitpren, Inc. in March was followed by the purchase of St. Clair Distributors in December. The products involved were combined and operations were located at 5407 Gratiot Road, St. Clair Township.

These acquisitions provided the company with the addition of beer brands like, Pabst, Molson, Labatt, Heineken and Guinness and a large portfolio of wine labels for distribution in the four Thumb counties, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron and Tuscola.

Robert A. Smith died, September 1987.

Lou Gostinger, Bob’s brother-in-law joined the company in 1989 to manage the Gratiot Road division. In November of 1995, he purchased the distribution rights to the products at that facility including beer, wine and non-alcohol brands and began operations as Lakeside Beverage. Also 1995, Erik Smith, Bob’s son, joined the company to help manage warehouse operations.

January, 2007 Lakeside Beverage sold back to the company all the distribution rights acquired in 1995 plus some new brands. Andrew Smith, Bob’s youngest son joined the business in 2009 to learn and help manage the sales department. It was fall of 2010 and company management decided to find a single, large facility to improve operational efficiencies and was able to purchase a former plastics plant located at 1717 Beard Street in Port Huron. The building was dismantled and re-purposed for beverage distribution and became our new home in December of 2011.  

Today, Bob, Erik, Sr., Vice President -operations and Andy Smith, Vice President - Sales work together along with 60 + dedicated employees to provide our retail customers with the best delivery service in the beverage industry.