Manufacturers Village at 356 Glenwood Ave. in East Orange — Courtesy: Sheldon Gross Realty
By Joshua Burd
A historic commercial complex in East Orange — one that now serves as a hub for local artists and entrepreneurs — has changed hands for $10.5 million.
According to Sheldon Gross Realty, which arranged the sale, a private entity purchased the five-building, 104,000-square-foot Manufacturers Village property at 356 Glenwood Ave. That includes about 40 units or studios that serve as operational bases for artists, photographers, designers, woodworkers, sculptors and a range of small businesses, the listing team said, while noting that the complex was built in the 1880s as the original headquarters for the company that would become Johnson & Johnson.
Sheldon Gross Realty President Marcy Gross, Controller Theresa Davis and Vice President Eric Weston represented the seller.
“It’s not every day you’re able to sell a commercial property that’s been around since the 19th century,” Gross said. “Manufacturers Village is a one-of-a-kind environment that’s integral to its local community. These brick buildings are home to a remarkable degree of talent and creative energy, not to mention well more than a century of history.”
The brokerage team announced the sale on Thursday, noting that the property was first designated as Manufacturers Village during the early 1900s. Multiple small businesses began utilizing the location soon thereafter.
Tracy Hubert, representative and partner of the former owner, added: “Selling a building that had been in our family for 155 years was deeply personal, and Sheldon Gross Realty handled the process with care, professionalism and genuine respect every step of the way.”
