Ferrara Candy, maker of Lemonheads, Nerds and other treats, reportedly intends to move its headquarters from Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois to the Old Post Office in Chicago’s West Loop. If a story that first appeared in the Chicago Tribune proves true, the confectioner would be the redeveloped building’s second confirmed tenant.
Located at 433 W. Van Buren Street, the Old Post Office is currently undergoing a $500 million renovation. 601W Companies acquired the 2.8 million-square-foot, Art Deco building in 2016 and tapped architecture firm Gensler to draw up a vision for the building’s second life, including the addition of a new food hall, a tenant-accessible rooftop and a new riverwalk. The Telos Group, a Chicago-based real estate services firm, is handling leasing on the project.
“While we have not finalized a lease with any location, we remain impressed by the future vision for the Old Post Office, and believe it would reflect the brand, culture and community we’re building for the next chapter at Ferrara,” Sarah Kittel, Ferrara spokeswoman, told the Tribune in a statement.
Earlier this year, Ferrara was linked to a different West Loop building, the 20-story 625 W. Adams, developed by CA Ventures and White Oak Realty. The candymaker was reportedly looking to take on approximately 60,000 square feet in that transaction.
This would be a homecoming as the candy company was formed in Chicago’s Little Italy 110 years ago. The company was bought by the similarly named but unrelated Italian firm, Ferrero Group, in December 2017. Ferrara employs around 2,000 in Illinois, though the Oakbrook Terrace headquarters contains only about 300.
This past June, the holding company for Walgreens committed to more than 200,000 square feet inside the Old Post Office. Approximately 1,800 employees will move into the building, though the company will retain its Deerfield, Illinois headquarters when the new office opens in the fall of 2019.
