Because Newell promised. The inside of 701 Seneca can be a stark contrast from what you see outside. The 7th floor, where RPM Entertainment Productions has space, is considered the "artsy" floor. AJ Fries and Richard Huntington have art studios on 7 and there are also cabinetry shops such as Hulley Woodworking, a high-end furniture making and restoration shop owned by John Hulley; and JPN, Jim Netwara's carpentry shop where Jim makes, well...just about anything. The Irish Classical Theater's Scene shop is on the 7th floor as well as RPM's workshop/warehouse.
JPN Cabinetry
The ramp that runs through the building is wide enough to drive a truck from the ground floor to top of building. Many of the businesses inhabiting 701 Seneca, do business with others in bldg. Printer Joe Rocco does wide-format graphics and Big Bear on the 3rd floor is a large national embroidery company.
"One of the things I love about this building," Rankin said, "is that we have a lot of space available to us at a very reasonable rate. Our landlord is great; when we need additional space for a big project, like last summer when we needed 5,000 sq. ft. for a month to paint the set for Aida, it was available to us immediately. We have a good loading dock and freight elevators, and we're close to the expressway and to downtown. There are a lot of companies here that we do business."
RPM Offices
John Larkin made paint here, roasted coffee, made soap...very much of their product line was produced right in 701 Seneca. There are 125,000 square feet per floor, for a total of 1,000,000 square feet in the entire building. The roof measures out at 25 acres. Although a lot of it is raw warehouse space, many renters, such as RPM, have built out their quarters to suit their needs.
RPM Workshop
"Our office was a raw warehouse space when we took it over, and we redid it ourselves, Rankin said. "This building serves a purpose for small businesses that just need to produce goods or services, and are not dependent on a tony address to do it. I don't mind having a cool space in an ugly building; a rehab like the one done to the LCO building would quadruple my rent. If I want more expensive office space, I can find it, but I like where I am."
Jennifer and Debbie Abramo of the Larkin Cafe
The ladies in the Larkin Cafe, mother Debbie Abramo and daughter Jennifer are sunny and put out a good product. And if you want a little more ambiance then the cafeteria provides, there is a nice wood-paneled dining area right down the hallway.
"Hidden" Larkin Cafe Dining Room
According to Alan Dewart, the landlord at 701, office space starts a $2.75per square foot, gross, minus electricity. He has several smaller spaces 2 - 3,000 sq feet, and a few large spaces of 20,000 sq feet or better. "It's perfect for light manufacturing and assembly," Dewart said. "We have a Canadian company that does their American distribution out of here. But our smaller spaces are the perfect set-up for a start-up that's ready to come out of the basement or garage at home. Your business can expand within the building, we don't require a long term lease, and build-out is negotiable." Dewart can be contacted for rental information at 856-0810.
Maybe it's time to explore the tenants in the old Trico plant and the Pierce Arrow Building as well.