Maynard Battery building in Ann Arbor sold; long-time business moves out
An Ann Arbor area manufacturer recently purchased the Maynard Battery building on Miller Avenue.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
The 5,000-square-foot industrial building — which is located at 401 Miller St. just west of North First Street — was sold to the Trenton Corporation last month for $450,000, according to city documents. Its 2012 assessed value was $381,000.
Trenton Corporation is a manufacturer of anticorrosion protection products that has its corporate office at 7700 Jackson Road. The company also has offices in Houston and Paris.
Listing broker Jim Chaconas of Colliers International's Ann Arbor office said Maynard Battery owner David Christman, who declined to immediately comment, was ready to move on after decades of business in the downtown area.
“I think with that kind of self-propriety business, he worked every day,” Chaconas said. “I think he’s going to take time off to reflect and see what he wants to do.”
The Miller Avenue building has been home to Maynard Battery since 1965 when the business moved from East Washington Street. The business changed over time, but Christman mostly repaired lawn mowers and snow blowers.
The industrial building, which is known for its chipped and faded sign, was originally constructed for a root beer bottling factory.
“Because it’s an old root beer plant, in (David’s) office you can see where they had the formula room,” Chaconas said. “It’s a cool little building with great parking, and you can walk to downtown.”
As the building’s ownership changes hands, Ted Kennedy, whose family owns Trenton Corporation, said they plan to use it as storage space.
“We’re buying it to use as miscellaneous storage and to maybe shoot some training videos,” he said.
Reflecting on Maynard Battery’s decades in operation, Chaconas said the business will be missed by many people in the area.
“I’ve always taken my stuff there,” he said. “Half the people I know do. It’s convenient and (David) does a great job. He could fix anything.”
Kennedy added: “I grew up in Ann Arbor and in that neighborhood, and it’s funny, my family used to go there.”
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
georginabn
Tue, May 15, 2012 : 12:30 p.m.
Jeff who worked as a mechanic at Maynard battery for about 25 years, now works at Jamie's Lakewood Auto on Jackson plaza, near wagner and Jackson, just so you know ;}
Annie
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 8:11 p.m.
I wish I had a half a million bucks laying around...I could think of a zillion different and better uses than a storage building for such a cool place in a GREAT location! Good luck to David on his new journey!
CynicA2
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 6:32 p.m.
It would make a nice neighborhood bar... !
Linda Peck
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 5:51 p.m.
Too bad such a unique and beautifully located old building will be used for storage. This probably means further deterioration rather than historic preservation. It is a neat building, inside and out. If you have never been inside, you have missed something nice.
Peter Baker
Tue, May 22, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
I'm not sure when the last time was you were in that building. I don't think you'd agree with yourself anymore.
mixmaster
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 6:13 p.m.
The building and the site's future use, whether or not it will be preserved and suffer "further deterioration" is an assumption on your part. Just an example of rumor and gossip.
Wystan Stevens
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 5:23 p.m.
Ann Arbor Library's "Old News" photo of the place, as it looked in 1939: http://oldnews.aadl.org/N016_0666_001
Borbsi
Sat, May 12, 2012 : 1:23 a.m.
Awsome photo. Note the brick pavers on Miller.
Dog Guy
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 8:05 p.m.
Thank you, Wystan Stevens, for the photo of Frey's Distributing. It made me nostalgic for that Pfeiffer's beer which ladies loved for its silent P.
susan.k
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
I will miss stopping in to see David when in town. I've always appreciated the great service and competent work done there. I especially have always recognized the obvious honesty and integrity practiced there, first by David's dad and then David.
JW
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 4:57 p.m.
David was also a Simplicity Lawn Tractor dealer and helped me get parts for my tractor over the years. I will miss that a lot, because the nearest Simplicity dealers are out on Parker Road or near Dexter. By the way, Simplicity makes the best lawn tractors ever, in my opinion, after trying other brands, including John Deere.
xmo
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 4:18 p.m.
Maynard Battery-another old business bites the dust. Let's hope the new owners do something nice with the property.
A2Writer
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
Dave - Ann Arbor won't be the same without Maynard Battery! Thanks for all you've contributed to our town through your great work and friendly, personable service for as long as I can remember. Wishing you all the best in this next chapter of your life.
ranger007
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 2 p.m.
Maynard battery will be missed..they did awesome work.
mixmaster
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 1:53 p.m.
Some people just don't have enough to occupy their time, so they comment on a real estate transaction about which they know nothing.
smokeblwr
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 1:44 p.m.
This would be a great spot for a grow-house for.....uhhh....pain medication.
treetowntenor
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 1:03 p.m.
I figured something was happening when the old Caddy disappeared. That car was almost as much of a fixture as Maynard Battery itself. The fact that it's still locally-owned is good, but I'm sad that it's going to be just a storage building. I would have preferred some sort of locally-owned retail business. I sure hope Trenton doesn't store "miscellaneous" hazardous chemicals or waste there. (Was Gelman locally-owned? I'll stop now...)
foobar417
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 12:14 p.m.
$450k for expensive downtown miscellaneous storage and to shoot training videos? It sounds like the property is being "parked" until some planned future use.
Lizzy Alfs
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
Yes, I will. They were very adamant it would be storage space after I asked several times, but I will stay updated to watch for permits or anything else going on there.
BobbyJohn
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
I also wonder the "real" reason Trenton bought the property. It is far from their other facility, and noone pays close to half a mil for just storage. Lizzy, could you try asking/prodding Trenton so we can find out future thoughts about the use of the property.
smokeblwr
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 12:08 p.m.
Had my mower engine rebuilt here a few years ago after running over a stump and snapping the crankshaft. I guess I should have done that more often....
mixmaster
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 12:06 p.m.
It sounds like Mr Kennedy has not only a business interest in the building, but a local interest in it as well. At least it's being kept in our local family One business moves on and another moves in. It's all good.
Richard
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 11:14 a.m.
Another negative comment regarding a story about a business we appreciated and will miss. I appreciate the story because it lets me know what will happen to the building in the future and what the owner, who we liked, will be up to. Too bad some people thought it was the only story about a business that was in the paper.
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 10:48 a.m.
Another let's do a story on a decades old local business when it's closing instead of while it's open and operating.
Alan Goldsmith
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 4:57 p.m.
Lol, trying to be a news organization. Good one. No story here about an old root beer factory and a business that's been around for 50 years. No story here...move along.
Peter Baker
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
It's "news" when a local business closes, it's "advertising" when a business gets promoted. Last I checked, annarbor.com was still trying to be a news organization, and marketing is still business' responsibility.
Bonsai
Fri, May 11, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
I can see it now.... "Local business still operating" ... can't wait to read that....