April 28, 2017

Exclusive: How Mueller’s Collierville Move Came to Be

Memphis Business Journal

Sometimes it helps to know your neighbors.

That’s how Kevin Hyneman, CEO of Memphis-based Kevin Hyneman Cos. Inc, ended up with the contract to build a $14.5 million office building for one of Memphis’ largest companies.

Hyneman is preparing to develop the 55,000-square-foot building for Mueller Industries in Collierville’s Schilling Farms Community. But, it all started with a conversation with a powerful neighbor.

“[Mueller CEO Greg Christopher] is a neighbor of mine in Southwind. We often chatted. I knew their lease [in a nearby Southwind office park] was maturing December of 2018. I told him, ‘I got the ideal place,'” Hyneman said.

That place was Schilling Farms. Even though Mueller looked extensively at other options — including locations in North Mississippi and Fayette County — over the past year and a half, the company ended up settling on the first lot Hyneman showed Christopher back in early 2016.

Hyneman said Boyle Investment Co., which manages Schilling Farms and would be selling the plot for Mueller’s headquarter to Hyneman, and Collierville’s Industrial Development Board, which is currently considering a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes for the Mueller move, both made the move possible by being “extremely helpful.”

“I dealt with [Boyle executive vice president] Mark Halperin, and he’s a gentleman. … [Collierville director of Economic Development] John Duncan has been very resourceful,” Hyneman said.

Boyle vice president Les Binkley said he is “delighted” Mueller picked Schilling, as the development is “catered to be a good environment for corporate office users.”

If the move occurs, Mueller would join Schilling Farms corporate office tenants Helena Chemical, MCR Safety and Juice Plus. The development also includes residential neighborhoods, retail space, restaurants, doctors’ offices, a YMCA, banks and a church.

Avison Young’s Shane Soefker is working with Hyneman on the development, and Fisher Arnold is the civil engineering firm. Fleming Architects is the architectural firm, and Grinder, Taber & Grinder, Inc. is the general contractor, Hyneman said.

Hyneman said the Mueller investment will bring his total investment in Collierville to more than $50 million.