Longaberger Basket Building Listed for $8.5 Million in Ohio

The iconic seven-story basket-shaped headquarters of the Longaberger Company in Newark, Ohio, has been listed for sale at $8.5 million. The 180,000-square-foot building sits on a 21.5-acre campus about 40 miles from Columbus. Built in 1997, the structure replicates the company's medium market basket, with heated handles to melt ice and a painted stucco exterior over wire mesh. Inside, it features a cherry wood staircase, glass elevators, a gym, and a media room. At its peak, Longaberger employed 500 corporate staff there. The company, founded in 1973, sold 11 million baskets in 2000, surpassing $1 billion in sales, and employed over 8,000 people. It also owned a hotel, golf club, and the Longaberger Homestead tourist destination. Longaberger folded in 2018. Developer Steve Coon purchased the building in 2017 with plans for a boutique hotel, stalled by the pandemic. Coon insists the building must retain its basket appearance and seeks a buyer who will respect its history and pursue National Register of Historic Places listing. Listing agent Brandon Hess of Shai Hess Real Estate notes the building's popularity with visitors.