1872 John West Sheffield came to Americus from Thomasville - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1872  John West Sheffield came to Americus from Thomasville  Organized the Sheffield-Huntington Company with Charles A. Sheffield

Sheffield H Hardware C Company Est stablish shed 1 1882

 Sheffield Hardware operated for over 100 years as a local single ran family wholesale/hardware store  1994 – Russell and Andrea Thomas purchased the building from the Sheffield family just after the Flood of 1994  Concerns • Leaky roof • 36,000 square foot building

IDEAS AND PLAN OF ACTION Apartments and Retail

Hired a Historical Architect Apartments  Brought the building up to code  2 laboratories and 2 toilets  Acquired the back property of  18 bathrooms the building adding 35 parking  1 electric meter  14 electric meters spaces for the building  State and Federal Tax Credits  HVAC, mechanical, were received for this project plumbing  Total cost of renovation  Installed new elevator – $750,000 1883 - $30,000  10 apartments  (7) one bedrooms  (3) two bedrooms

RECRUIT A RETAIL BUSINESS

The Home Place Furniture Store

MULTI-MERCHANT MALL

THE MAZE  Currently houses 58 vendors  Space is rented per square foot  $1.50 per square foot  Spaces rent from $60 per month to $400 per month.  In addition to the rent, The Maze collects 10% of the gross sales from the individual dealers.  Rent from the dealers pay the bills, including all utilities.  The 10% covers payroll.  There is no insurance offered on their products, individuals have to acquire their own insurance if they want it, currently only two people have it. If there is damage to products due to building maintenance, their merchandise is covered.

 The Maze operates at capacity with vendors.  There are approximately 4-6 turnovers per year, with a waiting list at all times.  A 3 month contract is required with no deposit.  A 30 day notice is required to vacate.  A business license is not required for each dealer in The Maze, however the Maze has to maintain a current business license including all gross sales of the dealers (charges $25 per vendor to cover business license).  Annual gross sales from The Maze - $800,000 per year  Sales fluctuate with the economy. When gas prices are up, sales are up.

Lil’ Brothers Bistro

Chuck Smith Owner of The Maze 131 West Forsyth Street Like us on