Element Bars has leased a 50,000-square-foot production and warehouse space at 1140 S. Washtenaw Avenue on the eastern edge of Chicago’s Lawndale neighborhood. The property is owned by affiliates of Rosemont, Illinois-based Brit Properties.
“I’m glad to have Element Bars join our list of local, national and international industrial tenants,” said Brit Properties partner, Joel Friedland. “But I understand that Miller would have strongly preferred to relocate into an owner-occupied facility if he could have found a suitable alternative.”
The founder and owner of the protein bar manufacturer, Jonathan Miller, saw his business outgrow the company’s 15,000 square foot building on West Belmont Avenue in Chicago. Trying to find a larger building to buy in the city proved to be impossible. After three years of diligently searching for a building to purchase, he eventually became desperate to relocate to a bigger production and warehouse facility.
“I was shocked at the lack of available properties for sale. Ultimately, I felt forced to accept leasing as the only alternative available to my company,” Miller said. “The Washtenaw Avenue property serves our needs, but I would have been happier to buy a facility. Maybe for our next expansion.”
The space was previously leased to Best Crouton Company, a supplier of salad ingredients to restaurants like McDonalds and Wendy’s.
