Former Mirro Manufacturing Plant Coming Down

For more than a century after it became a downtown Manitowoc, Wisconsin landmark, the abandoned Mirro manufacturing plant is coming down.

Demolition on the 900,000-square-foot former cookware and bake-ware plant started this week. The current demolition consist of the 3-story and 7-story sections of the former plant.

St. Louis businessman Eric Spirtas bought the building for $200 almost eight years ago, the third owner after parent company Newell-Rubbermaid abandoned the plant that provided employment for thousands beginning in 1904. It moved production to Mexico.

The recession and other factors made re-use of the plant impossible, Spirtas said. He said he is focused on efforts to continue salvaging northern hemlock and maple floorboards for sale to underwrite continuing asbestos abatement and demolition.

Spirtas said about 100,000 board feet out of some 2 million has been shipped via truck to buyers in California, New York and South Carolina.

Global Iron & Demolition Services is doing the demolition.