The physical address for Oneupweb has changed again, but that won't matter to most of its customers who simply type in oneupweb.com to visit.

ABOVE, Amy Booth (left) helps load boxes, while moving
vans (below) await to assist in moving Oneupweb from Lake
Leelanau to its new location in the former Howard Energy
Building in Greilickville.

The search engine marketing firm created by an upstart web designer has once again outgrown its headquarters, which began in the home of Lisa Wehr. She moved the company to a handsome, more-than 6,000 square foot building in Lake Leelanau in 2005 — and quickly outgrew it.

Wehr and Oneupweb wanted to remain in the relatively rural confines of Leelanau County — Wehr’s son attends Suttons Bay Public Schools — and found the best of both worlds in the plush former Howard Energy Building overlooking Grand Traverse Bay in Greilickville.

“Two years here and we had to move,” said Wehr Friday, as she joined with employees in moving desks, chairs and computers in three moving vans parked in the Oneupweb parking lot.

Oneupweb had grown too big for its confines, to the point of holding back the hiring of new employees. The firm had 44 employees Friday — and had to wait until Monday to provide space to fit a desk for its 45th.

It’s been a remarkable business run for Wehr. Just a decade or so ago Wehr was living in Alaska, a new mother looking for a new career. She bought a computer and by 1996 had taught herself how to design sites for the newly emerging World Wide Web.

Eventually she formed Oneupweb to help clients reach higher levels of online sales, a niche that seems to expand as fast as the online search optimization company can grow.

Space should not be a problem in Oneupweb’s new diggs, commonly known as the Howard Energy Building and located at 13561 South West Bay Shore Dr. At some 23,000 square feet, the building comes with 578 feet of West Grand Traverse Bay frontage and two tenants who will continue to occupy about one-fourth of the building.

Its new name, however, will be the Oneupweb World Headquarters building. Wehr consummated the purchase in May; contractors have been working since this summer to prepare for its new occupants.

Reports indicate the building will take its place as a showcase for business in the Grand Traverse area — and retains the employee-friendly atmosphere Wehr believes helps to motivate her employees. An expansive eating area on the second floor boasts views as wide as West Grand Traverse Bay, and includes a plasma television and floor games such as foosball.

Oneupweb market researcher Amy Booth, who has been commuting from Torch Lake to Lake Leelanau, was looking forward to occupying the new headquarters. Her daily drive will be reduced by about 20 minutes each way.

“This is an advantageous move for me, and a beautiful building,” she said.

Most Oneupweb employees, Wehr said, reside in Leelanau County. She believes the amount of time they spend commuting will be about a wash, with some driving longer and some driving less.

She credited Construction By Soper for quickly preparing the new building for occupancy.

While Oneupweb will fill one near-vacant building, its departure from Leland Township will completely vacant another. The former Oneupweb “world headquarters” remains for sale, Wehr said. Its 1.77 acres and 6,421 square feet is listed by Cory Beuerle through the Century 21 real estate office in Suttons Bay for $799,900.