MasterBrand, a maker of cabinets for kitchens, bathrooms and other parts of the home, is scheduled to open its new corporate headquarters in March in Beachwood.
The company, which has more than 20 plants, distribution centers and sales offices across North America, will occupy space in the SITE Centers Corp. building at 3300 Enterprise Parkway. MasterBrand’s corporate headquarters has been in Jasper, Indiana.
MasterBrand cabinetry brands include Aristokraft, Decora, Diamond and Fieldstone Cabinetry.
The HQ relocation is a big deal for Beachwood officials. MasterBrand, which employs more than 13,600 workers, will bring $7.3 million in additional taxable payroll to a city already bursting with businesses. The SITE Centers building will provide room for up to 40 MasterBrand workers.
Catherine Bieterman, Beachwood’s director of economic development, says MasterBrand will be one of the city’s top employers in terms of new income tax generation. However, it’s not just Beachwood that will benefit.
“Any time we are able to attract a national leading company like this, the nation’s largest cabinet maker, it boosts the entire region’s ability to secure investment from other out of state interests,” Bieterman says.
“Ohio has continued to grow and has become a significant player in attracting companies, as a result of new investment by businesses like Intel and others in the area,” she adds.
In December 2022, MasterBrand spun off from Fortune Brands Innovations Inc. and became an independent, publicly traded company. Since then, it has been searching for its own headquarters.
“We wanted a city that would be central to our locations while offering a workforce to help us stay on top of manufacturing innovation and new digital technologies,” says Bruce Kendrick, MasterBrand’s executive vice president and chief human resources officer.
“In the end, we chose Beachwood and the Northeast Ohio area because it’s a great place to raise families,” he adds. “It has quality educational institutions along with a mix of recreation and social activities that will help us attract talent to the area.”
Andrea Horton, executive vice president and chief legal officer and secretary at MasterBrand, says Beachwood offers a business-friendly environment with a lower cost of living than other large cities, which the company believes will attract quality employees both locally and nationally.
“The great parks, restaurants, recreation and shopping will also be a big draw,” Horton says. “Plus, the diversity of companies in the area means that we are joining a vibrant business community.”
Beachwood’s business community already includes the U.S. headquarters of Eaton Corp. In addition, the Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute recently opened at University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center.
Bieterman says Beachwood is home to more than 2,500 offices, retail stores, restaurants, health care institutions and other businesses. As for community amenities, the city can boast of an outdoor fitness center, new pickleball courts, a dog park and a playground under construction.
Beachwood sweetened the pot by offering MasterBrand a four-year, 40% tax credit to move their headquarters here. It means the city will give the company an annual rebate equal to 40% of their municipal income tax.
Team NEO, an economic development organization for Northeast Ohio, is working with MasterBrand to secure a grant through JobsOhio, the state’s economic development organization, according to Nina Holliday, Team NEO spokesperson.