Innis Maggiore to Relocate Headquarters on Whipple NW
By EDWARD R. SEMMLER Repository business editor
JACKSON TWP. — When Dick Maggiore took the first look inside what eventually would become his company's new headquarters, he admits he couldn't see beyond the obstacles.
The empty building at 4715 Whipple Ave. NW was situated on a beautiful 2.5-acre parcel with plenty of trees and lawn. It also had great visibility just south of the Belden Village Mall as well as a nearby traffic signal a necessity in the busy retail and business district.
But the inside of the building looked far too institutional for Maggiore, president of the Innis Maggiore Group. As a former one-day surgery center belonging to Aultman Hospital, it was filled with square, curtained recovery rooms with outlets for oxygen.
The building also contained boilers, generators, compressors, sterilization units and other gear needed for a medical facility but completely unnecessary to an advertising and public relations firm.
Maggiore decided to make more visits to the building, and eventually, he fell in love with the location, the rounded curves of the structure and the quality of the construction.
"The solution was deciding we could gut the building," said Maggiore.
Jack Hawk of the Wilson Architectural Group was called in to remake the building. "Since we're an advertising and public relations company, we told him to go nuts," said Maggiore.
The gutting and rebuilding of the 12,700-square-foot building began in January and will be mostly completed by Tuesday when Innis Maggiore officially opens at the new location.
The new facility gives the rapidly expanding firm room to grow for many years. It also allows the company to combine its advertising and public relations people under one roof.
The company has more than doubled its revenues during the past four years and now has 27 employees, who work out of offices at 2833 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, and at 610 N. Main St., North Canton.
Maggiore said the company was leasing its North Canton offices. The location in Canton will be sold.
While most of us will be enjoying Memorial Day weekend, Maggiore and others from Innis Maggiore will be busy coordinating Tuesday's opening of the new building.
But Maggiore said the $1.8 million project is worth the price and the hassles.
"This is probably the thrill of my career," said Maggiore. "This will uplift us personally and professionally."
You can reach Business Editor Ed Semmler at 580-8327 or by e-mail.