Max Rieke & Brothers, Inc. (maxrieke.com) is a family-owned excavating and grading contractor based in Shawnee, Kansas (Kansas City metro area).

Company Overview

• Founded: 1951, in response to the "Big Kansas Flood." Started by brothers Max, George, and John Rieke as a part-time venture alongside truck farming. It evolved from small-scale basement digging, pond building, and basic earthwork into a full-service heavy construction firm.
• Location: Physical address at 15400 Midland Drive, Shawnee, KS 66217; mailing P.O. Box in Shawnee. Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am–5pm.
• Leadership: Third-generation family business. Currently run by Leon Rieke (Max's son), Steve Rieke (George's son), and Derrick Rieke (Leon's son, VP/COO).
• Size: 40–100+ employees (seasonal); fleet of 300+ pieces of equipment. Estimated annual revenue around $10–11M.
• Services: Excavating, grading, site development, site utilities (storm/sanitary sewers), underground utilities, pre-cast and rock retaining walls, heavy highway construction, commercial/residential projects, structural excavation, earth material hauling, and pond/lake excavation. They serve government entities, private developers, residential builders, commercial clients, and homeowners across Kansas and Missouri.

The company's website is straightforward and functional but quite basic—mostly contact forms, history, safety policy, customer info, and vendor/employment sections. It emphasizes reliability, experience (70+ years), and safety.

Pros / Good Aspects

• Longevity and stability: Decades of continuous operation as a family business, with a track record of growth and adaptation to larger projects. Strong local presence in the KC area.
• Broad capabilities: Comprehensive earthwork and site prep services, from residential to heavy highway/government work. Large equipment fleet supports scaling.
• Reputation indicators: High BuildZoom score (97, top percentile for Kansas contractors). Positive employee feedback on Indeed (e.g., "relaxed small office family construction company" with long tenure). Emphasis on safety programs and compliance.
• Community ties: Involved in local projects; appears professional and approachable for bids/quotes.

Cons / Potential Drawbacks

• Limited online presence: The website is minimalistic with little project portfolio, case studies, photos, or modern marketing. This could make it harder to evaluate past work quickly.
• Mixed historical legal notes: There are old court cases (e.g., 1990s–2000s contract disputes/arbitration), which is common for construction firms of this size but worth noting for due diligence.
• Not BBB accredited: Though it has an A+ rating profile (no major complaints highlighted in available data).
• Seasonal/operational factors: Employee count and workload fluctuate; construction businesses can face weather delays, labor shortages, or supply issues common to the industry. One older news mention of neighborhood concerns over prolonged excavation work nearby.

Overall, Max Rieke & Brothers looks like a solid, established regional player for grading/excavation needs in the Kansas City area—especially suitable for developers or larger site projects. They have the experience and scale that would appeal in your real estate/development work (e.g., the Eveningside or similar parcels). For current bids or specifics, I'd recommend contacting them directly at (913) 631-7111 or bid@maxrieke.com, as public info is somewhat limited. No major red flags stand out from available sources.