The landmark former Birkenstock building in northern Novato is back on the market.
The vacant property at 1871 Redwood Blvd. near Mount Burdell was the U.S. headquarters for the German shoe company until it moved to 100 Wood Hollow Drive in 2020.
The owner is Novato Redwood Properties Inc., an affiliate of Birkenstock. It envisions a sale in the $40 million range, depending on the structure of the deal, said James Manley, a real estate agent with Keegan & Coppin Co. Inc.
The building was last on the market from 2016 to 2019, but Manley said the owners were unsure if they wanted to lease or sell it. Despite interest in the building at the time, no buyers were able to “pull it together,” he said.
The 173,400-square-foot building has a 134,000-square-foot warehouse and 33,000 square feet of office space. The walls are not load bearing — the entire building is supported by the posts — meaning there’s flexibility in redesigning the space, Manley said.
“The construction approach to it, the design and the construction, is really unique,” he said.
Bill Pierson, an assistant county assessor, said the building was valued at $24.5 million in 2024.
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Pierson said the building’s history started in 1964, when it was occupied by the publishing company McGraw Hill Inc. In 1991, it was sold to William Poeschl and had an assessed value of $10.6 million.
Birko Orthopaedic Inc. bought the building in 1996. Pierson said the value was assessed at $12.7 million.
The company changed its name to Novato Redwood Properties Inc. in 2004.
The old Birkenstock building is seen from the air in Novato, Calif. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. (Alan Dep/Marin Independent Journal)
Christina Mendes, chief executive officer of the Novato Chamber of Commerce, said the organization is excited about the possible opportunities a sale could bring to the area. The organization is pro-business and pro-expansion, and welcomes new investment and economic growth in Novato, she said.
“The Birkenstock building is an iconic property in a prime area and has been vacant for too long,” Mendes said. “We are eager to see what company might occupy the space and bring new energy, jobs and innovation to Novato.”
“We are happy to do whatever we can to encourage anyone to consider joining the business-friendly Novato community and support them in any way,” Mendes said. “We stand ready to assist in this transition and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our local economy.”
Manley said the listing has already generated some interest. While he doesn’t think the property will be used for manufacturing, it could accommodate additional development or something more technology oriented.
“You’ve got to keep in mind that if you look at the vacancy for industrial in Marin County, it’s virtually nonexistent, and so the property is an extremely rare opportunity to expand on land that has the proper zoning for manufacturing, research and development, all of that stuff,” Manley said.
