New Jersey developers buy 120,000 square feet in warehouse space near airport for more than $11 million

TAMPA —New Jersey-based real estate developer Sudler Cos. has bought two warehouses totaling nearly 120,000 square feet near Tampa International Airport.

The properties, which are next to each other on Benjamin Road, include a 100,000-square-foot light manufacturing facility and a 20,000-square-foot flex-use warehouse. A spokesman for Sudler says in an email that the company would not disclose the purchase price.

But according to Hillsborough County property records, the properties — at 6005 Benjamin Rd. and 6001 Benjamin Rd.— sold for $11.25 million.

The properties were sold to Bensud LLC. The state corporation commission lists Peter D. Sudler, chairman and CEO of the Sudler Cos. as the registered agent for the LLC and the LLC’s address matches Sudler’s in the articles of organization posted on the state’s website.

The larger property sits on 8.75 acres and is fully air conditioned. It was built in 1988 and underwent an expansion in 2010.   

It has an existing tenant, Volt Air, which is taking up about 20,000 square feet. The remaining 80,000 square feet is being marketed for lease.

The company spokesman said the smaller property is set to undergo an extensive rehabilitation to update it to class A industry standards. When completed, it could possibly be used for offices with space for manufacturing or a warehouse.

The purchase of the Tampa warehouses is a part of Sudler’s continued expansion into Florida.

The company is building a 2 million-square-foot business park in Plant City called the Southern Oaks Business Park. Construction has already begun on a 727,000-square-foot warehouse that will face Interstate 4. Work is expected to be completed early next year.

The 233-acre park will be right on I4 giving the Southern Oaks cross-state access to the Tampa and Orlando markets.

The company was founded in 1907 by Hyman Sudler in Newark, New Jersey. It began building warehouses in 1938, constructing them for Montgomery Ward in 14 states.

Peter Sudler runs it today with his two sons, Brian and Dan, the fourth generation of the family to enter the business.