Haasch Appliance has purchased the property of the former North Avenue Appliance and will move to the site in the spring after extensive renovations and a building addition are completed, according to company owner Barb Wanless.
Both facilities are on North Avenue, with Haasch currently at 8725 W. North and the North Avenue Appliance property at 11728 W. North. The business had moved to Wauwatosa and North Avenue from Vliet Street in Milwaukee in 1968. The facility was remodeled eight years ago.
Despite the development of the big-box appliance retailers, Haasch Appliance has grown and remained economically strong, Wanless said. But the current 4,800-square-foot site offers no on-site parking and, being in a densely developed area, offers no opportunity for expansion.
She wasn’t actively looking for a new site, but when North Avenue Appliance closed, the property caught Wanless’s attention. The building is about the same size – both have about 3,500 square feet of space, but the 29,000-square-foot corner-lot property at 117th and North will accommodate a building expansion. Wanless will add about 2,300 square feet to the building, which will provide space to expand the Haasch Appliance lines and offerings.
According to City of Wauwatosa records, the property at 8725 W. North Ave. has an assessed value of $317,200, with $264,400 of that being for the structure. The property at 11728 W. North Ave. has an assessed value of $491,400, with the land currently making up most of that value, at $348,100.
The Bentley Co. is handling renovation of the building, including removal of several layers of façade that covered the original red brickwork. Landscaping will complement the exterior renovations. Inside, the building was gutted, allowing for a complete renovation, including mechanicals.
Wanless is hoping for a March completion. Once the move is complete, the current property will be offered for lease or sale, she said.
While not disclosing project costs, Wanless said business has been good for Haasch Appliance. "We wouldn’t be doing this if the business weren’t there to support it," she notes. She attributes the store’s success to the attention shoppers get from the Haasch staff, and from demand for the store’s high-quality appliance lines.
The business was founded in 1935 by Ray Haasch.
Nov. 22, 2002 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
