The Mastercraft

In 1941, the Katzman family, owners of Mastercraft Furniture, opened a 140,000-square-foot-factory near 13th and Nicholas Street in Omaha. For 62 years, Mastercraft Furniture produced mid- to high-end furniture and sold it to stores in nine states.

After the sale of the company in 2003, the Mastercraft sat empty. Attempts to sell the massive, rundown building — the length of nearly three football fields put end to end — were not successful, and it was finally put up for auction. This is where entrepreneur Bob Grinnell discovered it and purchased it in 2005 — on a whim.

Grinnell repurposed the Mastercraft into a creative center, drawing small companies from the design, architecture, and technology industries. He took care to preserve the building’s high ceilings, clerestory windows, and rough sawn lumber joists as a nod to the building’s past while incorporating modern amenities for today’s companies. He enjoyed being hands-on in the renovations, often welding and pouring concrete himself. He stayed true to his vision of creating a community of entrepreneurs.

In October 2018, Grinnell sold the Mastercraft to Paul and Annette Smith who founded and lead Black Dog Management. Black Dog purchased the Mastercraft Building along with the historic Ashton Building and the surrounding land. The Smiths’ vision felt familiar to Grinnell. They want to create a neighborhood that supports the businesses of today and tomorrow and further defines Omaha as cultural, vibrant, and inclusive. The Mastercraft is now the heart of a neighborhood undergoing revitalization: Millwork Commons.