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Will They Come?

County reports interest in former Bush, Serta, Truck-Lite buildings

There's nothing official to report at the moment but officials say there's a lot of interest in some vacant manufacturing plants in the south county.

During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise gave an update on a number of projects.

Among the topics discussed were the vacant Bush building, the vacant Serta Simmons Bedding, and the vacant Truck-Lite facility.

Geise said that "offers were made" on Truck-Lite and Serta Simmons, but said he couldn't provide any more information.

Meanwhile, Rosie Strandburg, a project manager with the county IDA, said an offer has been made on the former Bush building. She added that she is "not privy to who the developer or company is," but that a realtor had contacted the office. "There's a possibility you'll be hearing in the next few months who may be purchasing it," she said to the IDA board members.

Bush Industries closed in the spring, laying off 237 people. The building is located at One Mason Drive, Ellicott, in the Mason Industrial Development Park.

Serta Simmons Bedding, also in the Mason Industrial Development Park, closed in December. There were 83 employees that were laid off.

Truck-Lite closed its East Elmwood Avenue plant in Falconer in 2020 and moved its corporate offices a year later to Erie, Pa. The closure and relocation affected around 200 employees.

There's been talk in the last few years regarding the former Truck-Lite plant.

In 2023, the county IDA approved tax incentives for the property to be sold to The Krog Group, LLC. The plan was for them to lease it out, possibly to a German company that manufactures ammunition.

It appears that plan fell through. On the county GIS page, Truck Lite Co., Inc. is still listed as the owner of 310 Elmwood Ave.