Our History | Davis Development Group

A man in a suit is sitting at a booth for Forester Products Co., Inc. The booth displays various upholstered headboards in different designs and colors. A sign above the booth shows the company's name and address in Cleveland, Ohio.

From Entrepreneurial Vision to Regional Leadership

The story of Davis Development Group begins with the vision and determination of founder Larry Davis, whose business instincts and integrity shaped both the company and the community it helped build.

What started as a small business manufacturing headboards in the early 1950s, Forester Products grew into a national supplier. The company’s growth required relocation to larger manufacturing buildings every few years, which was disruptive and costly. Larry took advantage of suburban sites being offered for rail users, and moved his business to a suburban location, which was only the beginning of multiple moves and his interest in real estate. The most important lesson learned during this time was your reputation precedes you, lesson he always practiced.

Shaping Solon and Beyond

A 1963 move to Solon was his last move and the beginning of a decades long commitment to Solon. In 1965, a 65-acre farm was acquired for Solon’s first industrial park – Solon Industrial Parkway. Larry’s ability to see potential where others saw farmland led him to invest in Solon’s future—and, in turn, to help define it. From headboards to real estate development, we grew into one of Northeast Ohio’s most respected real estate development firms.

Over our 60-year history, we have helped Fortune 500 companies find new homes and small entrepreneurs find their first location to begin their journey to success. We developed 4,000,000 SF of commercial, industrial, and retail properties in Cuyahoga, Summit, Lake, and Portage counties.

Larry’s reputation for honesty, financial responsibility, and personal relationships became the foundation of the Davis name—values that continue to guide every project today.

Continuing a Legacy of Integrity and Innovation

Under the leadership of Jeff Davis, the company has continued to evolve — growing from a developer into a fully integrated owner and property manager.

Davis Development Group remains committed to the same core principles that defined its early years: integrity, innovation, and long-term partnership.

More than 60 years later, that entrepreneurial spirit still drives us forward—shaping spaces that support businesses, strengthen communities, and reflect the enduring legacy of the Davis name.

Learn more about how we continue to build on that history across Northeast Ohio.