MEMPHIS, Tenn.–Orion FCU here is now in the process of moving its corporate headquarters to the former Wonder Bread bakery building at 400 Monroe Avenue here.
Orion said its decision to relocate to this city’s Edge District was an intentional effort to address long-term blight and drive economic development in Memphis. The search for the Orion headquarters site was extensive, covering all areas of the city, the credit union said.
“When considering a new location for our headquarters, we saw an opportunity to benefit Memphis and the communities we serve,” said Daniel Weickenand, CEO of Orion Federal. “A strong city core can create a ripple effect for development and energy throughout the region. We’re proud to be a part of that with this move.”
Added Board Chair Andre Fowlkes, “The location in the Edge was chosen when the Orion leadership agreed that the organization could strategically position their corporate headquarters to anchor a historic Memphis neighborhood, end blight, spur commercial and residential growth, and reinforce a critical connection between the Medical District and Downtown Memphis.”
Other Companies Also Moving
The $880-million Orion FCU reported that since announcing its move in 2017 to the Edge District, several companies and developments have also announced expansion plans in the area.
“Memphis has momentum, and with this project, Orion is helping to play a large part in that,” Mayor Jim Strickland said. “It’s exciting to watch this kind of development progress because it spurs others like it. I remember driving through this area prior to construction and to see it now with everything else going up around it is proof of that.”
Nearly 150 Orion employees will move to the new building from Orion’s former location at 7845 Highway 64.
“It’s a win for our city when large or small companies and non-profits make business decisions based on corporate social responsibility to our city and our community. We felt it was important to evaluate the return on investment to Memphis and our membership. Memphis is our home, and we want to see it grow, develop, and evolve,” stated Weickenand.
Famous Sign to Remain
The Wonder Bread factory has been vacant since 2013, making the stretch of Monroe Avenue near the building and several surrounding properties a visible eyesore that could be seen from high-traffic areas, including Downtown Memphis and Sun Studios, Orion FCU reported.
Instead of tearing down the factory and leveling the block, Orion said it chose to keep the original shape and bones of the building and add a third story. A new, period-appropriate exterior façade is made of reclaimed bricks from the original structure.
The Wonder Bread building was built in 1921, and for many years its sign has been iconic in Memphis. While the building has been updated with secure and modern specifications by architectural partner Looney Ricks Kiss, the sign remains in place and has been restored with updated lighting.
Second Such Development
The historic “Cadillac Building” adjacent to the Wonder Bread site at the corner of Danny Thomas and Monroe will also stay in place, with renovations planned in the future for the building and parking lot that serve as the entry to the Edge District, Orion FCU reported.
This the second commercial development Orion has selected specifically to address blight in an area of Memphis. In 2017, a Silver LEED Certified branch was completed across from Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital on an abandoned brownfield site that was once a gas station, as CUToday.info reported here.