After more than a century on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, MSP Plumbing, Heating and Air will leave the historic street for a larger facility in Woodbury.

Founded in 1918, MSP has operated from 640 Grand Ave. since 1927 and nearby on the avenue before that, serving a 46-mile radius encompassing the Twin Cities. One of the avenue’s longest-serving tenants, MSP will leave later this month, but not because they think it’s a bad place to do business.

“We adore Grand,” said general manager Dave Napier. “We would stay there forever if we could.”

So, what is driving them to Woodbury? A lack of parking.

In the back of the building, they can fit three vehicles at a time and “it’s a tight fit,” Napier said. How many vehicles do they have? About 64.

The parking problem was exacerbated a few years ago when Dixie’s on Grand closed, Napier said. The popular restaurant and bar used to be kitty-corner to MSP at 695 Grand Ave., and didn’t open until the afternoon, so they’d let MSP use their parking spaces in the morning.

“We could park 15 to 20 (vehicles) in their lot without issue,” Napier said. “So when they sold out, we lost our parking and could no longer host team meetings.”

As a temporary solution, Napier said they have been renting meeting spaces offsite at Evolve Workplace and the Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul for their call center and morning team meetings.

In order to work efficiently and as a tight-knit team, Napier said he and the other 70 employees need to be under the same roof.

In addition to more parking, the new facility at 2415 Ventura Drive has 6,000 square feet of warehouse space, which is triple the amount they have now.

Napier said the added warehouse space is needed just as much as the parking to allow the business to grow and run more efficiently.

“It’s unfortunate, but I know they’ve really outgrown the space,” said Chris Jensen, president of the Grand Avenue Business Association, about MSP relocating.

“Grand is going through a renaissance period where we’re welcoming all these new businesses and the older ones are moving on,” Jensen said, referring to the summer closure of Tavern on Grand, which opened on the avenue in 1990.

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“Everyone is sad to leave Grand, but excited for the new beginning,” Napier said. “Us leaving opens the door for someone else to come in.”

New tenant

David and Dede Smith, right, third-generation owners of MSP Plumbing, Heating and Air, with general manager Dave Napier, left, and his daughter, Lisa Landis, financial operations manager. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

The building, which is owned by the Smith family that founded MSP, sold to the first prospective buyer to tour it, Napier said.

While there is still a lot to be ironed out, Napier said there are tentative plans for more retail in the space that could include a coffee shop.

“It’d be great to have a family-run business in there again, whether retail or restaurants or something along those lines,” Jensen said.

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“MSP Plumbing and Heating has proudly served the Twin Cities as a family-owned business since 1918, when my grandfather, Sam Smith, founded the company,” wrote David Smith, the current and third-generation owner of the company along with his wife, Dede, in an email.

David Smith’s father, Norman Smith, and uncle, Milton Smith, were the next owners until the late 1980s, when, David wrote, “I purchased the company from them and it’s been a privilege to carry on the legacy they built.”

“I don’t want people to think we’re bailing on Grand Avenue,” Napier said. “We’ll miss the character of the building and the character of the neighborhood.”

MSP will begin operations in Woodbury on Monday, Napier said, with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony to follow in the spring.

The last day of operation for MSP on Grand Avenue is planned for Sept. 27.