Muskegon, MI, November 22--The business behind the old warehouse door at 605 W. Dale belies the carpet and flooring business behind it.
Even owner Scott Gilbert has described the turn-of-the-century industrial building as "kind of in the back corner." That's a bit of an understatement, according to the Muskegon Chronicle.
But things are about to change for Lange Carpet and its owners Scott and Sonia Gilbert. Lange Carpet is a small family business embarking on a major development.
Lange Carpet has been a growing business since the Gilberts purchased it from Joe Strandberg nine years ago. They have had to knock out walls in the leased structure adjacent to Lange Moving & Storage, a separately owned business, to create more warehouse space.
Now, Lange Carpet will celebrate its 40th anniversary in business this summer in a new 19,000 square-foot showroom and warehouse just around the corner at 1660 Glade. The new facility with a modern glass and split-faced block facade will have great visibility from Seaway Drive.
"This has been Scott's dream for years," Sonia said of her husband who began working as a teenager for the flooring company where his step-father was a carpet installer.
Once deciding to make such a major move, the Gilberts had to decide on a location for their new showroom, offices and warehouse. They received plenty of suggestions from friends and customers -- many in the real estate business.
The options included moving out to Sternberg Road near The Lakes Mall or finding a downtown location on or around the former Muskegon Mall site. But the owners decided to stay right in their current warehouse neighborhood along Glade, tucked between Southern and Laketon avenues.
"We stayed because of our customers," Sonia Gilbert said. "Some people who have done business with us suggested other locations. But no way did we want to lose our customer base here. And we get the added value of (improved) visibility."
The Gilberts purchased five lots with approximately 250 feet of frontage on Glade Street from Brad Lange, whose family established the moving business in 1866 and the carpet business in 1960s. Once a residential site with five homes, 1660 Glade most recently had been home to an old garage structure.
"The site has been an eyesore for years," Sonia Gilbert said.
Muskegon city officials are pleased with Lange Carpet's upgrade and decision to remain in the city neighborhood along Seaway Drive. The Gilberts have been in discussions with the city on the new building project for nearly two years, said Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, the city's director of community development.
"Certainly they have needs beyond the building that they are now in," Brubaker-Clarke said. "They will have a good site in their new location off Seaway Drive. It's good to see that they are committed to staying in the city."
The new Lange Carpet facility will provide a much needed 5,000-square-foot showroom for the company's carpet, vinyl, ceramic, laminate and wood flooring products. The facility also will have expanded offices and warehouse space for the "cash and carry" portion of the business.
In addition, the new Lange Carpet facility will have approximately 2,000 square feet of additional leasable space. The Gilberts said they hope to attract one or two complementary businesses such as an interior design firm, or outlets for window treatments, cabinetry or paint and wallpaper.
Construction began on the new facility in the past few weeks with hopes of Lange Carpet moving in sometime next summer. Scott Gilbert is acting as the general contractor on the project, allowing the company to keep costs less than $1 million, his wife said. The project is being financed through Valley Ridge Bank.
"It is a huge blessing to us to use those who have patronized us in the past," Sonia Gilbert said of subcontractors working on the project.
