Challenge
Mantua, a Cleveland-based bed frame manufacturer, had experienced significant growth through its expansion of product lines, including adjustable bed frames which took up significantly more space than traditional bed frames. The client was in two different industrial facilities ½ mile apart. One was Mantua’s original 1960s, 30,000 sq. ft. building in an older section of town and the other was a 70,000 sq. ft. building constructed in the 1990s and expanded in the 2000s. Mantua sought to accommodate the need for increased warehouse space, rework its manufacturing lines, and expand office space from approximately 4,000 sq. ft. to 15,000 sq. ft. (and in the process, reset corporate culture with a cleaner, forward-looking office and facility design).
Solution
Allegro began with an evaluation of the client’s requirements and goals. After an extensive search, the conclusion was reached that there were not any existing buildings for sale that met Mantua’s needs. At that point, a new build was explored as an option and ultimately chosen after vetting numerous locations as well as developers.
Ultimately, with Allegro’s facilitation, Mantua decided to build a 130,000 sq. ft. building with 32’ clear heights in a nearby, newer industrial park. The new space houses a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, modern offices, and a spacious warehouse. Additionally, Allegro helped the client secure attractive incentives from the new municipality, including a long-term real estate tax abatement that helped limit the increase in costs associated with new construction. Along with Mantua’s owner’s representative, Allegro then led the client through the development and construction process of this facility.
Mantua also engaged Allegro to dispose of its old properties. Allegro was able to secure buyers for each of Mantua’s buildings, an individual investor and small business owner for the smaller property and a Canadian auto parts distributor for the larger property. Prior to and throughout the construction phase, Allegro secured temporary warehouse space for Mantua so the manufacturer’s operations were not interrupted.
By engaging Allegro, Mantua was able to accommodate the need for increased warehouse space and make a seamless transition from multiple spaces to a single state-of-the-art facility, as well as dispose of two properties that no longer suited their needs.
Client Testimonial
Over the course of many months, Adam Gimbel at Allegro helped us get our hands around a series of complicated interconnected real estate and operational issues. Adam lead us along a thorough process including surveying our current properties and business growth needs, assessing available buildings, and getting our hands around the efficacy of designing a new facility. In the end, Adam’s process delivered to us what became an easy decision – to consolidate and build a new headquarters and manufacturing building that fully embraced our business evolution needs. In turn, we were able to sell our underperforming facilities for a smooth transition.
–Marc Spector, COO, Mantua Manufacturing Company
