25 Division Avenue South is located in the Heartside Historic District in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. Constructed in 1891 and named the “McMullen Building,” the building is a staple in Grand Rapids’ downtown district and has seen its fair share of action over the years.
George K. McMullen, founder of the McMullen Machinery Company at 64-66 Ionia Avenue, which stood opposite the Union Depot for seventeen years, built up a remarkable business that was a distinct contribution to the industrial life of Grand Rapids.
The McMullen Machinery Company distributed complete lines of woodworking machinery, metal-working machinery, electric motors, transmission equipment, general shop equipment, and contractors' equipment in western, central, and northern Michigan.
Professional offices were located on the top floors of the McMullen Building at 25 Division Avenue South. Ten years later, it hosted the Frederick Music House, Maleki & Sons Musical Instruments, and several other music-related businesses. During the 1950s, the Zondervan Publishing House was on the upper floors, with a retail shop on the first. After Zondervan relocated to Eastown in the early 1980s, the building sat unoccupied until 1999, when it was renovated for office usage.
Looking back on our Headquarters history.
We remember the headquarters of the $100 million CyberNet fraud, one of the largest white-collar crimes to play out in West Michigan. Its aftermath included suicide, prison sentences, and lost jobs. Investigators showed how the company founder Barton Watson and others bilked lenders out of millions of dollars in a Ponzi scheme set up to look like a fast-growing tech company. Investigators learned that millions of dollars were being pocketed by Watson, his wife, and other company executives who lived lavish lifestyles. This photo shows Barton Watson's company's offices at 25 S. Division Ave prior to his ownership in 1981.
