The Milwaukee franchise of Sign-A-Rama plans to move its operations to a new building that it plans to build in the Menmonee Valley Industrial Center.
The Sign-A-Rama franchise currently leases a 7,600-square-foot space at 272 N. 12th St. in the Menomonee Valley. But it needs more space as it adds equipment to add embroidery and screen printing services for garments, said owner and general manager Chris Nelesen.
“We’re renting right now and we’d like to own our own building and we definitely need room to expand,” he said.
Sign-A-Rama plans to build a 14,000-square-foot building at 3760 Wheelhouse Road in the MVIC, which is the industrial park created by the city just east of the Miller Park parking lots.
The Sign-A-Rama franchise is seeking a $640,000 loan and a $64,000 loan from the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. for the $1.7 million project, which includes the new building and new equipment.
Construction could begin in late spring.
The Menomonee Valley offers a good location near downtown Milwaukee, Nelesen said.
“The proximity to downtown is very important to us,” he said. “A lot of our clients are downtown, and this is a hub to reach our other clients in the area. Being down here you are in the thick of things. It’s an up and coming area.”
The Milwaukee Sign-A-Rama franchise has 13 employees and plans to add another 12 employees within the next two years.
