KzooCutaway Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2016/06/heritage_guitar_expansion.html#incart_river_home KALAMAZOO, MI — A big renovation is planned for a landmark building that has been a part of Kalamazoo's history since 1917. The building that houses Heritage Guitar Inc. at 225 Parsons St. will undergo a $12 million renovation with developers PlazaCorp. PlazaCorp plans to develop the 5-acre site in a mixed-use fashion. PlazaCorp will renovate 147,000 square feet of the building's 167,000 square feet, demolishing the remaining 20,000 square feet. Included in the renovations will be a 2,000-square-foot beer garden, a bar or restaurant and observational areas to see the iconic Gibson smokestack through skylights from within the building and finishing areas for the Heritage manufacturing space. An intimate performance venue also is a possibility. The building will feature upgraded and expanded manufacturing space for Heritage, along with other rehabilitated space for current and future tenants. The Gibson Guitar Corp. opened at 225 Parsons St. in 1917. Heritage Guitar Inc. has been operating in the space since Gibson moved operations to Nashville, Tenn. in 1984. Print Email By Emily Monacelli | emonacel@mlive.com on June 16, 2016 at 10:44 AM, updated June 16, 2016 at 12:28 PM
FredZepp Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 Oh Yeah.... it just keeps getting better and better. The infamous Parsons Street Plant in Kalamazoo will proudly share it's rich heritage....
High Flying Bird Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 I just saw this on Ray Peacock's facebook page. How cool is this?
skydog52 Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 A lot of exciting things happening at the Old Plant. Good stuff! Future PSPs?
FredZepp Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 PlazaCorp intends to redevelop the 5 acre former Gibson Guitar manufacturing site at 225 Parsons St. to include upgraded and expand manufacturing space. The estimated $12 million project will include a new 2,000 square foot beer garden and observational areas to view the Gibson Smokestack and fabrication of Heritage Guitars. Included in the renovations will be a 2,000-square-foot beer garden, a bar or restaurant and observational areas to see the iconic Gibson smokestack through skylights from within the building and finishing areas for the Heritage manufacturing space. An intimate performance venue also is a possibility. The building will feature upgraded and expanded manufacturing space for Heritage, along with other rehabilitated space for current and future tenants. Developers expect the project to start within six months, and expect work to take about 18 months.
PunkKitty Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 I'm excited about this project. It also made my decision to attend this PSP final. I want to remember the plant as it was before renovations.
chico Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 Folks I can't wait to play a couple tunes on my HFT 445 in that possible performance lounge. This is a great day for 225 Parsons and Kalamazoo. It's about time they recognize what they and had and HAVE! Heritage!
Buckyrock Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 Somebody will be carrying a bunch of debt to make this happen. It will doom Heritage. This is a mistake.
tbonesullivan Posted June 16, 2016 Posted June 16, 2016 I wonder which parts are getting demolished? There has been a LOT of success in renovating old industrial buildings for new purposes. They generally have very conservative specs regarding load bearing ability, so it's easy to put things inside.
davesultra Posted June 17, 2016 Posted June 17, 2016 Can't help but think that this endeavor is a bit overly ambitious. We'll see if the market will support all these new things. Much luck to the new Heritage ownership.
abcpeterson Posted June 17, 2016 Posted June 17, 2016 Is this Joe B for real? Recent perhaps? He played in Grand Rapids at DeVos Hall back in April 2015. He stopped there on his way to GR.
ElNumero Posted June 17, 2016 Posted June 17, 2016 He played in Grand Rapids at DeVos Hall back in April 2015. He stopped there on his way to GR. How cool is that. And he showed the gang some of his vintage burst Lesters !!
davesultra Posted June 17, 2016 Posted June 17, 2016 How cool is that. And he showed the gang some of his vintage burst Lesters !!IIRC he was there on a Friday when the plant was closed.
Millennium Maestro Posted June 17, 2016 Posted June 17, 2016 Somebody will be carrying a bunch of debt to make this happen. It will doom Heritage. This is a mistake. I don't agree! Having met the new owner of Heritage Guitars/ owner of the Historical building. He shared some business ideas which in my opinion is a viable way for Heritage to strive as a handcrafted guitar company(without CNC) AND there are several other plan for the Historical site. Its not all on Heritage its completely about investment into a Historical site. Does anybody else notice the best secret in american guitars is no longer that big of a secret?
Steiner Posted June 17, 2016 Posted June 17, 2016 Maestro! Keep your voice down. This is supposed to be our good thing. Nobody else is supposed to know. Next thing you know, the folks from MLP and TGP will be here mucking things up! I'm awaiting the announcement for the scotch and cigar bar - inside the smokestack.
Vanschoyck Posted June 17, 2016 Posted June 17, 2016 A tourist attraction that makes guitars in a famous guitar plant sounds like a winner to me. Just how hard is it to get to Kzoo? Does Amtrak come through there? Where does one fly in to?
JeffB Posted June 18, 2016 Posted June 18, 2016 A tourist attraction that makes guitars in a famous guitar plant sounds like a winner to me. Just how hard is it to get to Kzoo? Does Amtrak come through there? Where does one fly in to? Takes between 35--67 hrs and costs between 1900 to 5000au
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