a:27:{s:9:"weblog_id";s:1:"4";s:8:"entry_id";s:3:"346";s:6:"sticky";s:1:"n";s:14:"allow_comments";s:1:"n";s:16:"allow_trackbacks";s:1:"n";s:10:"entry_date";s:19:"2008-12-13 09:08 PM";s:15:"expiration_date";s:0:"";s:23:"comment_expiration_date";s:0:"";s:8:"category";a:2:{i:0;s:1:"6";i:1;s:2:"31";}s:9:"author_id";s:1:"2";s:10:"new_weblog";s:1:"4";s:6:"status";s:4:"open";s:14:"trackback_urls";s:0:"";s:18:"versioning_enabled";s:1:"y";s:5:"title";s:44:"Midwest Block & Brick Gobbles Up Competition";s:9:"url_title";s:42:"midwest_block_brick_gobbles_up_competition";s:6:"submit";s:6:"Update";s:11:"field_id_26";s:44:"Midwest Block & Brick Gobbles Up Competition";s:11:"field_ft_26";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_31";s:0:"";s:11:"field_id_44";s:65:"The economy may be tough, but Midwest Block & Brick is expanding.";s:11:"field_ft_44";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_28";s:59:"Midwest Block & Brick, Hill Thomas, Glenstone Block Company";s:11:"field_ft_28";s:4:"none";s:11:"field_id_29";s:2736:"<p>The economy may be tough, but Midwest Block &amp; Brick is expanding.<br /><br />Midwest Block &amp; Brick, a division of Midwest Products Group, recently acquired Hill Thomas, based in East St. Louis, IL and Glenstone Block Company in Springfield, Branson, and Camdenton, MO. Both acquisitions took place in October.<br /><br />Along with the acquisition of Glenstone Block Company, Nattinger Block &amp; Brick, a Midwest Products Group company, will be changing their name to Midwest Block &amp; Brick as a part of a consolidation strategy. <br /><br />The Hill Thomas company headquarters includes 3.5 acres located in East St. Louis, Illinois, complete with a rail spur. Their accompanying retail showroom, approximately 2,000 square feet in size, is located in Shiloh, IL.<br /><br />The Glenstone Block Company headquarters includes 5.5 acres located on Glenstone Avenue in Springfield, MO. The facility features a 4,000 square foot showroom, with block manufacturing plant, shop, and warehouse included. The Glenstone Block Company acquisition also includes their Branson retail outlet located on approximately 2 to 3 acres. Glenstone&rsquo;s Camdenton location will merge with Midwest Block &amp; Brick&rsquo;s current facility in Osage Beach.<br /><br />According to a statement from Midwest Block &amp; Brick, the immediate benefits of the Hill Thomas acquisition include a broader range of products available for Midwest Block &amp; Brick customers to choose from; additional experienced salespeople for the Metro East; customers in the St. Louis area; and a showroom facility in Shiloh, Illinois.<br /><br />&ldquo;The acquisition of Hill Thomas by Midwest Block &amp; Brick gives us a presence in the expanding areas of Edwardsville, O\'Fallon and Belleville, Illinois,&rdquo; said Darryl Winegar, vice president of Midwest Block &amp; Brick. <br /><br />Similarly, Mike Ankrom, another vice president, said, &ldquo;The acquisition of Glenstone Block Company by Midwest Block &amp; Brick gives us an increased market penetration in the crucial trade areas of Branson and Joplin, as well as a bigger presence in Springfield, MO.&rdquo;<br /><br />Midwest Block &amp; Brick already had multiple manufacturing and showroom facilities across Missouri, including the Kansas City region; Columbia, Jefferson City and Osage Beach in mid-Missouri; the Hannibal area; and throughout the St. Louis Metro region. Midwest Block &amp; Brick also operates in Quincy and Springfield, IL; Paducah, KY; and Union City, TN.<br /><br />Besides Midwest Block &amp; Brick, Midwest Products Group has several other divisions headquartered in the St. Louis region, including Kirchner Block &amp; Brick and St. Louis Retaining Wall Company.</p>";s:10:"category_0";s:1:"6";s:10:"category_1";s:2:"31";}