May 20, 2026 ~ The City of South Bend has taken a major step towards revitalizing its community with the completion of demolition at the former South Bend Range Co. factory on Cherry Street. This long-standing blight and environmental issue has been a concern for the city for years, but now, with the site cleared, it is ready for future redevelopment.

According to city officials, the property was acquired at no cost through a tax sale in 2024. The demolition work began in January and cost approximately $595,000. However, this is just the first phase of the project as the city plans to conduct a second phase later this year to further clean up the site and remove any remaining debris.

The factory had been vacant since 2001 and had already undergone partial demolition in 2012 when the southern half of the building was torn down. The site has a rich industrial history dating back almost a century when it was home to the Malleable Steel Range Manufacturing Company in 1907. Over time, it became known as South Bend Range and expanded its production to include commercial cooking equipment for hotels and restaurants. During World War II, they also produced cooking equipment for the armed forces.

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In 1982, South Bend Range merged with Escan Metal Canada, Ltd. and was renamed South Bend Escan Corporation. However, operations were eventually moved to North Carolina in 1983. From then on until 1997, various businesses occupied parts of the building including South Bend Metal Processing, a stainless steel manufacturer.

In 2025, concerns over environmental hazards led to a removal action at the site where more than 70 deteriorated 55-gallon drums were addressed by city officials.

This ongoing work at the property is part of Mayor Mueller's larger effort to eliminate blight and improve neighborhood safety while also preparing underused and contaminated industrial sites for future redevelopment. With this latest accomplishment at the former South Bend Range Co. factory, the city is one step closer to achieving its goals and creating a better community for its residents.

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