Southeast Steel is ready to make a move for just the second time since the company was founded 85 years ago. But instead of relocating to the suburbs, the downtown appliance retailer wants to stay at its Amelia Street location in the heart of Orlando’s Central Business District, where it will move into a new building.

“I think just from the growth in Central Florida was just one of those things,” VP Spencer Kimball said. “We’ve outgrown the size of the building for our needs, and it was an opportunity that we’ve been exploring for quite some time. And now it’s gotten to the point of all right, let’s see if we can make it go right.”

Kimball’s grandfather founded Southeast Steel in 1940, and it’s been in the family ever since. They currently occupy a former produce packing warehouse that was built in 1918. “We were previously at the location where the bus station is now,” he said. “We moved here in 1978.”

Kimball, the third generation of the family to run the business, told GrowthSpotter they wanted a modern building — a “shiny new toy” — that paid homage to the company’s origin in the steel business.

The plan calls for a two-phase project. The company would first build a 2- or 3-story building in the back, northeast corner of the property to serve as a temporary showroom and warehouse. Once that building is open, they would demolish the existing store and replace it with a 3-story building.

The Kimballs collaborated with architect Kyle Simmons from KTH Architects to come up with the design concept that features soaring windows across the front of the building with a combination of blue metal panels and concrete. The west elevation, which can be seen from SunRail, mixes in white translucent panels that will glow at night when the building is lit from within.

“I think the pictures probably won’t do it justice, but it’s hoped to be pretty exciting,” Kimball said.

The design also calls for exposed steel beams on the exterior, which is another nod to the current home. “If you’ve been in our building, you see the structure,” Kimball said. “So the idea was to keep that same idea throughout.”

Jeremy Lamm, the general contractor for the project, said he estimates it will take 14-16 months from the time the temporary showroom opens to completion of the new building. Once Southeast Steel moves into the new space, the smaller building could be repurposed for additional storage.

The project was scheduled to receive a courtesy review Thursday from the city’s Appearance Review Board, but the meeting was canceled due to the lack of a quorum.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at lkinsler@GrowthSpotter.com or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.