Jim Ranalli, CEO of United Auto Supply, is what might be called a serial redeveloper of vacant industrial property.
After growing tired of looking at it from his United Auto Supply office across the street, Ranalli bought the burned-out remains of the former Marsellus Casket Co. factory in 2013 and turned it into the new local home of the American Medical Response ambulance service.
He later purchased the abandoned Sam Dell Dodge dealership site and turned it into a successful retail center that includes an Aldi grocery store and a Dunkin’ Donuts shop.
Most recently, in June of 2016, he bought (for $100,000) the vacant Coyne laundry plant—a 120,000-square-foot former industrial laundry facility—from Coyne International Corporation.
Gary Cottet, an associate broker with Pyramid Brokerage Co., said Ranalli plans to redevelop the property for light industry, office, processing, service or some other use.
“The great thing about Jim is, he’s a one-man department of urban renewal,” said Cottet.