Chicago-based Coyote Logistics has inked a lease to occupy the Saks building on First Ave. N. in downtown Birmingham.
Currently located at Two Perimeter Park, Suite 305 West, the transportation and logistics service provider plans to move to its new location at 1904 First Ave. N. by the end of January or first of February 2015.
“We wanted to have a presence in the downtown area,” Coyote COO Eddie Leshin said in an email response this week. “When researching the available spaces in the city center, we looked for areas that are ‘on the rise’ with revitalization projects and the Coyote atmosphere.”
Corporate Realty was the most recent firm to occupy space in the building. It has moved to a temporary location while awaiting the completion of the $5 million Merita Bakery development that will be the site of Corporate Realty’s new headquarters.
The Saks building, which was renovated by Golden Construction in 2005, is three-stories and 18,843 square feet and can hold up to 200 employees, Coyote Logistics said.
Leshin said the building’s historic look and its size made it the perfect downtown location for the firm.
“The Saks building provided the space we wanted for growth in the Birmingham office with 18,000 square feet,” Leshin said. “With its three floors surrounded by top to bottom windows and classic urban look, we knew it could be a perfect location to allow the city to see inside what Coyote employees do on a daily basis.”
It’s proximity to downtown’s growing amenities played a factor as well, Leshin said.
“The Saks building had the historic downtown Birmingham look,” Leshin said. “We made sure to research the surrounding areas and found that we would be about five blocks from the new Regions Field and Railroad Park, which sparked the new growth boom in the downtown area.”
Leshin said the close proximity to the theater district also provides employees options for after work activities. Coyote currently has its footprint in 16 U.S. cities.