Iconic retail headquarters building for sale following company’s demise
A retail headquarters that is listed in Lonely Planets book “Amazing Architecture: A Spotter's Guide” as one of the 120 world’s greatest human constructions is for sale.
The building, in Newark, Ohio, is the former home of The Longaberger Company, which quietly went out of business at the end of last year after filing for bankruptcy. Founded in 1973, the direct-to-consumer company was most famous for its baskets, which came in all sizes and shapes. Its popularity peaked in 2000, with sales of $1 billion and some 8,000 employees. Longaberger baskets were one of the hottest home decor and collectible items on the market. The former headquarters building is shaped to resemble the company’s biggest seller, “Medium Market Basket.”
Longaberger actually moved of the seven-story, 180,000-sq.-ft. basket-shaped building in July 2016. It was purchased in 2017 for $1.2 million by Canton-area developer Steve Coon and business partner Bobby George, of Cleveland, who saved it from foreclosure.
Coon is now selling the still-empty building through NAI Ohio River Corridor, a full-service commercial real estate firm, affiliate of NAI Global. Built at a cost of $32 million, the facility includes C-suite offices, conference rooms, cafe, theatre and fitness center. Natural sunlight floods a 30,000-sq.-ft. from the massive skylight seven stories high.
“This building is the perfect way to differentiate your business,” said NAIORC’s Laurie Stanbro, “How could anyone miss a seven-story basket less than 30 minutes from Columbus, Ohio?”
The sale price of the building is currently undisclosed.
The building, in Newark, Ohio, is the former home of The Longaberger Company, which quietly went out of business at the end of last year after filing for bankruptcy. Founded in 1973, the direct-to-consumer company was most famous for its baskets, which came in all sizes and shapes. Its popularity peaked in 2000, with sales of $1 billion and some 8,000 employees. Longaberger baskets were one of the hottest home decor and collectible items on the market. The former headquarters building is shaped to resemble the company’s biggest seller, “Medium Market Basket.”
Longaberger actually moved of the seven-story, 180,000-sq.-ft. basket-shaped building in July 2016. It was purchased in 2017 for $1.2 million by Canton-area developer Steve Coon and business partner Bobby George, of Cleveland, who saved it from foreclosure.
Coon is now selling the still-empty building through NAI Ohio River Corridor, a full-service commercial real estate firm, affiliate of NAI Global. Built at a cost of $32 million, the facility includes C-suite offices, conference rooms, cafe, theatre and fitness center. Natural sunlight floods a 30,000-sq.-ft. from the massive skylight seven stories high.
“This building is the perfect way to differentiate your business,” said NAIORC’s Laurie Stanbro, “How could anyone miss a seven-story basket less than 30 minutes from Columbus, Ohio?”
The sale price of the building is currently undisclosed.