Star Paper Company Building

402 E. Kalamazoo Avenue

From paper-making to asbestos to craft beer and live music, the old three-story building situated at 402 E. Kalamazoo Avenue holds the history of an assortment of different commercial enterprises.

From Sweet Treats to Paper Printing

Built around 1909, the Baker-Hoekstra Candy Company was the first occupant of the building. They were only there for about three years, when their primary competitor, the Hanselman Candy Company bought them out, adding an addition to the building in 1912-13. But the making of candy would give way to a much more profitable industry…paper.

Southern Michigan Paper Company became the third occupant of the industrial structure situated a few feet away from the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad tracks. A year later, the city directory lists an additional occupant, the Van Gorden Ruling Company. In 1916, the Bermingham & Prosser Company moved into the building after purchasing the SMPC, setting up their printing presses, and catering to small-scale printing needs. Established a year earlier by A.T. Bermingham and Henry G. Prosser, the company celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1965. By that point, they had “expanded to include 10 divisions in eight states.”

Paper products were not the only thing made inside the long, brick building. Prior to asbestos being considered a dangerous carcinogen, it was commonly used in homes as an insulator. The Asbestoloid Products Company sold their products out of the building in the mid-1920s. In the early 1930s, the Kalamazoo Roofing Company called the building home.

Star Paper Company

Today, the building is commonly referred to as the Star Paper Company building because of the painted brick facade which features the company name. The company was also the longest running occupant of the building, operating from 1935 to 1971. One of many successful paper product distributors in the Kalamazoo area during the first half of the 20th century, the company was led by Frank Niessink, a first generation Dutch-American who was also known as a breeder of boxer dogs. A longtime resident of Kalamazoo, Niessink passed away in 1951, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery.

The building survived the departure of the Star Paper Co. during the 1970s and 1980s by housing several small-scale businesses including Woodchuck & Company, an exotic woods dealer and a furniture refinishing shop. The Heritage Company (they later moved to 150 N. Edwards St.), an architecture and salvage supply dealer, and Arcadia Creek Antiques also moved in during the late 1980s.

Kraftbrau Brewery and Old Dog Tavern

The building was renovated and reborn in the 1990s. It became the home to Kraftbrau Brewery in 1996. Its rebirth came about in large part because of the success of the local craft beer industry, as well as a lively music scene that attracted both beer drinkers and fans of local and touring musicians. Working on a month to month lease with the building’s owner, Kraftbrau owners were not able to maintain the business when an increase in rent forced the popular establishment to close in the fall of 2007. The building’s owners opened the Old Dog Tavern in 2010, which was slated for sale in the summer of 2024.

Article written by Ryan Gage, Kalamazoo Public Library staff, 2025