Big Rapids Distribution

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Big Rapids Distribution, originally founded as the Keep On Truckin' Coop, was a Detroit-area cooperative distributor started around 1970. It specialized in distributing underground newspapers, radical literature, and underground comix, and it also carried mainstream magazines, paperbacks, and comics. The company served central and southern Michigan and operated from offices in Detroit and Big Rapids, Michigan. Its leadership included Jim Kennedy as president and other key figures such as Michael John and Gary o’Gorman.

History and growth
- The cooperative began in Detroit around 1970 and later moved its headquarters to Big Rapids, adopting the Big Rapids Distribution name while keeping a cooperative structure.
- In early 1975, after Donahoe Brothers Inc. of Ann Arbor failed, Big Rapids bought its assets and started distributing mainstream comics in addition to its existing titles.
- The company was known for its aggressive approach to debt collection and for expanding its reach in Michigan.
- The 1978 Irjax Enterprises lawsuit helped open up the distribution market, enabling further growth.

Decline and aftermath
- In 1980, Big Rapids Distribution went bankrupt and its assets were liquidated.
- The market’s void helped inspire new distributors, including Capital City Distribution and New Media Distribution, while a few smaller outfits like Comic Kingdom and Common Ground Distributors had brief runs to fill the gap.

Assets and subsidiaries
- Big Rapids owned or interacted with several distributors, including Donahoe Brothers, The Comic Distributor, Isis News, Nova Well News Co., and Wisconsin Independent News Distributors.