Known as the “city of homes,” Wauwatosa, Wis., is now home to a 394,840-square-foot U‑Haul store at 11700 West Capitol Drive. U-Haul acquired the former Harley-Davidson facility in April 2015 for its first location in the northwest Milwaukee suburb.
Harley-Davidson was founded in 1903 with the production of its first motorcycle. They sought out this location in 1947 for its large size and layout. This building was ideal for its production facility and close to its Milwaukee headquarters. Now known as U-Haul Moving and Storage of Wauwatosa, this facility will bring moving and self‑storage solutions into the area.
“The facility was built in 1943 as a propeller manufacturing facility for B29 Super Fortress planes,”Harley-Davidson corporate reputation and communication manager Kristen Cunningham said.
“We acquired the building from A.O. Smith Corporation in 1947 and occupied the space from 1948 until July 2011. We relocated the Sportster® powertrain manufacturing operations housed there to our Pilgrim Road plant as part of the company’s manufacturing restructuring and transformation.”
Wauwatosa is home to more than 47,000 residents and boasts great neighborhoods, excellent schools as well as several parks and recreational opportunities.
By reusing a formerly vacant building, U-Haul is able to keep a large business in the community while shrinking its carbon footprint and promoting corporate sustainability.
U-Haul general manager Kenneth Heitman is proud to be reusing the historical site and bringing the first U‑Haul location into Wauwatosa.
“I am excited to see U-Haul establish itself in a new market here in Wauwatosa, and do so while honoring Harley-Davidson,” Heitman explained.
U-Haul is celebrating its 70th anniversary after being founded by 1945 by L.S. “Sam” Shoen and his wife, Anna Mary Carty Shoen.
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