Universal Window Solutions buys new headquarters building

BUYER: Menard & Holt LLC (principals: Judith Lee), Bradenton

SELLER: Legacy Real Estate Holdings LLC

PROPERTY: 2502 81st Place E., Sarasota

PRICE: $900,000

LAW FIRM ON DEED: Mechanik Nuccio, Tampa

PLANS, DESCRIPTION: Bradenton-based Universal Window Solutions LLC purchased the 22,584-square-foot former Ferguson Heating & Cooling warehouse/showroom building off U.S. 301 for $900,000.

The price equated to $40 per square foot.

The one-story building features 4,000 square feet of air-conditioned showroom and office space, a 19,000-square-foot warehouse and a dock-high double truck well with three grade-level doors. The 1.21-acre site has frontage on U.S. 301.

The window and door company plans to move to the new location from a leased 10,000-square-foot building it currently occupies at 3130 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton.

“Historically we've been tied to construction industry,” says Bob Smith, CEO of Universal Window Solutions. “But over the years we've started to develop a retail business. We've opened showrooms here and on Longboat Key, and they've done really well. So now we're ready to make a significant investment on a showroom.”

Universal Window Solutions plans to renovate the 81st Place East building and occupy it by early July.

Carl Wise of Preferred Commercial Inc. represented the buyer and Christopher Leonard of Colliers International represented the seller.