By Carris Campbell

 

Construction began 95 years ago on 230 Franklin Road, kickstarting an industrial journey that shaped the economic and cultural landscape of our town. Home to four different manufacturers for over 62 years, The Factory has long represented Franklin’s commitment to hard work and building community. When its industrial era quietly drew to a close in the early 90s, this 20-acre plant found new life thanks to the creativity and determination of a local visionary, evolving into a community hub that has given Franklin families and visitors a unique space to enjoy our small-town charm. Today, under guidance from Holladay Properties, this sleepy campus is roaring back to life with new retail, dining, and experiences while honoring its historic legacy.

 

First constructed in 1929 by Allen Manufacturing Company, a Nashville-based stove works, it wasn’t just the allure of Franklin’s sprawling countryside, convenient railroad access, and untapped workforce that brought Allen south – it was the citizens of Franklin who sealed the deal. Together, they raised enough money to help finance the construction of the new plant, establishing a unique relationship between our small town and its industrial powerhouse. Through the years, a cycle of mutual support and investment bloomed between The Factory and Franklin – the plant provided vital employment opportunities, and the community funded the continued use of the plant as operators came and went.

 

Over the next six decades, stove makers Allen Manufacturing Company, Dortch Stove Works and Magic Chef Inc., along with The Factory’s final manufacturer, Jamison Bedding Company, consistently employed the highest number of people in Franklin and Williamson County, including during the Great Depression. This legacy, almost incapacitated in the mid-century, was made possible by the citizens of Franklin who provided funding so the city could purchase the plant and secure Magic Chef’s continued presence in the community in 1958.

 

Near the end of The Factory’s industrial era, when Jamison Bedding Company decided to move out, Franklin citizens rose to the occasion once more, saving the campus from ruin (literally speaking, as the building was set to be demolished for a Hollywood movie!). But Calvin and Marilyn LeHew, well known for their efforts to preserve and champion Franklin’s historic character, recognized the potential in this run-down former plant. Putting everything on the line, they revived The Factory and transformed it into a vibrant living room for neighbors and visitors alike, showcasing Franklin’s character through local shop and restaurants, artistic experiences, and hundreds of community events.

 

Now under new ownership once again, Holladay purchased the property in October 2021 for $56M and began a comprehensive construction project in June 2022, for what the current owners believe will be a national model for adaptive re-use of early 20^th Century industrial structures.

 

“The Factory will be a place you can work all day and then meet your spouse and kids for dinner and a show. And what makes it like nowhere else is that this newly reimagined little city will be just a short walk from one of the most charming small downtowns in America: Franklin, Tennessee,” says Madison Wenzler of Cushman & Wakefield, who represented Holladay in the sale, says,

 

Today, beloved long-term tenants welcome eager new faces to the family, and previously unexplored spaces (like the patio under the water tower!) welcome guests to a new era, celebrating all that Franklin is and has to offer.