Published July 2003

Travis Industries
to relocate to Mukilteo

By John Wolcott
SCBJ Editor

A former Boeing Co. manufacturing facility in Mukilteo will become the new home of Travis Industries, an east King County fireplace and hearth maker that plans to bring 400 new jobs to Snohomish County and create as many as 400 more employment opportunities over the next five years.

The 24-year-old company is consolidating five existing facilities in Kirkland and Woodinville where it designs, builds and distributes Lopi, Avalon and Fireplace Xtrordinair brands of wood, gas and pellet stoves, fireplaces and fireplace inserts.

President and CEO Kurt Rumens said the company’s move will take place over the next six to eight months, calling Boeing’s former Building 40-41 building a “phenomenal facility for manufacturing.”

The Kirkland firm lacked enough space in its present facilities to pursue new markets and grow, Rumens said. The firm claims a 30 percent to 40 percent market share for its wood stoves but wants to increase its 5 percent share of the fireplace business.

Over the past two years the company has produced award-winning new fireplaces for the market, including its Ring of Fire, an outdoor fireplace and fountain combination. The new Mukilteo facility will be named “House of Fire.” The company is the nation’s largest privately owned manufacturer of hearth products that burn wood, gas and wood pellets.

Leasing the huge, 476,000-square-foot building is particularly significant because it “not only shows the benefits of locating at Harbour Pointe but also indicates the attractiveness of Snohomish County has a business center,” said Colette Mennink, vice president of the Boeing Realty Corp.

Snohomish County EDC President Deborah Knutson agreed, adding that in addition to adding 400 jobs it takes a major segment of empty real estate off the market in the county. She applauded Boeing’s efforts to find quality companies for its excess space in the county.

Last month, the company signed a $19.2 million, 12-year lease with Boeing Realty Corp. for one of the two buildings Boeing vacated as it consolidated its manufacturing activities in the county. The last of Boeing’s work at Harbour Pointe ended in late 2002.

The company’s goal is to grow from $70 million to $150 million a year in revenue over the next five years, which would add 400 more employees. As part of the planned expansion, Travis will install more than $750,000 worth of new manufacturing equipment at the new facility this year, which could add as many as 50 jobs in the near term.

Rumens said he had considered moving out of state but remaining in the area means he can retain “98 percent of our employees.” He said Boeing Realty made him “a very attractive offer” on the building and that he also found the attitude of Mukilteo city officials “really welcoming.”

Richard Peterson and Darrell Okada of Puget Sound Properties represented Boeing Realty and Paul Jerue and Chris Langer of the Broderick Group represented Travis Industries.

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