Just three months after its previous tenants left, a Yatesboro-based business purchased a warehouse in the West Hills Industrial Park, which formerly housed BFG-Wetsel Seed Co.
Carson Industries Inc., parent company of Carson Home Accents, purchased the 80,000-square-foot facility from BFG Kalamazoo LLC last week, with the deed recorded on Dec. 6 for $2 million, according to Jeanne Englert, director of Armstrong County's Department of Tax Revenue.
Brad Carson, president of Carson Home Accents, said his business has experienced growth over the last few years, making a larger facility a necessity.
“We wanted to stay here, in Armstrong County,” Carson said. “I'm the third generation of family controlling this business, and we're familiar and comfortable with this area, and our workforce is from Armstrong County.”
Carson said his business occupies space in the Shannock Valley Industrial Park and Slate Lick.
Carson's grandfather, Harry Carson Sr., started the business as Carson Casting Company in 1970, and eventually, his father, Harry Carson Jr., took control of the business.
Carson said his business designs a variety of products, ranging from small, sand-cast aluminum gifts to indoor and outdoor decor, including wind chimes, gazing balls and bird baths.
Carson employs about 100 people and plans to transfer a portion of his employees from the Yatesboro location to the West Hills Industrial Park.
“We'll be adding a few more (employees),” Carson said.
BFG-Wetsel Seed, owned by Burton, Ohio-based BFG Supply Co., moved to a larger warehouse on Nixon Road in the Cheswick area of Allegheny County in August, leaving behind its West Hills Industrial Park facility near the park's Route 422 interchange.
Wetsel Seed moved into the industrial park in 1982 and was one of its first tenants.
A surge in business made the move a necessity, according to Rob Glockner, president and chief executive officer of BFG Supply.
The West Hills Industrial Park is owned by the Armstrong County Industrial Development Authority, but BFG owned the warehouse, said Mike Coonley, executive director of the county's Department of Economic Development.
Coonley said officials in the Department of Economic Development have been working with Carson Home Accents for years in hopes of finding a larger facility in Armstrong County. The former BFG-Wetsel Seed building was the perfect fit, he said.
“Carson is a solid company, whose business is growing,” Coonley said.
Brad Pedersen is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-543-1303, ext. 1337, or bpedersen@tribweb.com.
