Price Cutter HQ latest in round of retrofitting projects

New business owners have a big choice to make from the start: Build new or retrofit an existing property. In recent months, Springfield-area businesses have chosen the latter, opting to adapt a current building to specific needs.

One such business is Price Cutter parent company Pyramid Foods, which renovated the 50,000-square-foot Deerfield General Store in eastern Greene County for it’s new headquarters.

“This building is triple the size we had before, but we had to do a lot of work to get it ready. Because it was a grocery store, it was basically a shell,” said Rob Marsh, executive director of real estate planning and development for Pyramid Foods.

Pyramid Foods President and CEO Erick Taylor said the move was set in motion two years ago when Jared Enterprises sold the company’s previous 30,000-square-foot offices at 336 S. Barnes Ave. to O’Reilly Automotive Inc., a commercial neighbor to the east on South Patterson Avenue, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

The employee-owned company – which operates under the banner of Pyramid Foods and has 56 retail grocery stores – moved into the new location Oct. 29, having been at the South Barnes site since 2004.

The 1878 S. State Highway 125 office in Rogersville is owned by Jared Enterprises, which paid for the retrofitting project under the condition that Pyramid Foods sign a longer lease.

“If we had to build something or lease an office space, the rent would have been higher,” Marsh said. “We signed a 15-year lease with Jared. This place is a good fit for us.”

Marsh declined to disclose remodeling costs.

Springfield architecture firm Bates & Associates Inc. retrofitted the building with 25 offices to house roughly 100 employees, including Pyramid buyers, human resources professionals and administrators. Marsh said the building was renovated from top to bottom, including carpet, restrooms and a new heating and air conditioning system.

Former Circuit City
Another of the largest recent retrofitters in the area, Midwest Technical Institute, has taken over the 40,000-square-foot Circuit City building at 3600 S. Glenstone Ave., vacant since 2009.

“The community doesn’t like to see empty buildings,” said Campus Director Paul Schaefer.

“We were happy to retrofit the space because the square footage was what we needed for the project.”

Leasing the building from Davis Properties for an undisclosed rate, the vocational school conducted a complete interior and exterior renovation, including the construction of 13 classrooms, five labs, two student lounges and a few administrative offices.

Opera house turned cafe
Eurasia Cafe, 1649 N. Boonville Ave, is currently renovating the former historic Springfield Opera House at 445 E. Commercial St. The 12,000-square-foot project, collectively called Culture on C-Street, is designed with a cafe and roasting room on the first floor and a bed and breakfast on the second floor. Justin Beiler, development manager for Eurasia Cafe, said he estimates the retrofit of the opera house would cost $600,000 to $700,000.

Although aware of many incentive programs offered, Beiler said the company decided against pursuing those options as the application process can slow down development.

“I’m not sure retrofitting this space has been a financial advantage,” Beiler said. “But that’s not why we chose this space. There is a rich history in this building and area that was important to us when making the decision for location.”

Springfield Planning and Development Senior Planner Matthew Shaefer said the city of Springfield offers redevelopment incentives, including real property tax abatement and loan programs, after developers and owners meet the qualifications and go through the application process.

“Many of these incentives are offered to those investing in blighted areas or specifically zoned redevelopment areas,” Schaefer said. “Our main goal is to encourage economic development.

“It is generally better for the city when businesses invest in already existing communities and buildings.”