Former Norwich cardboard factory fails to sell at auction
Norwich — The end of an era passed quietly Wednesday morning, as auctioneer Paul Scheer received no bids in the auction of Atlantic Packaging Corp., a 10-building mill complex off North Main Street.
The auction was ordered by the company owners after they ceased operation of the 100-year-old cardboard manufacturing plant in October. Partner Steve Vizoukis cited loss of sales and rising costs as reasons for the reluctant mill closure. The company employed about 30 workers.
The opening of bids on the 10 buildings and 7.25 acres of land that comprise the Atlantic Packaging Corp. kicked off a daylong auction at the mill Wednesday that included all equipment, manufacturing machines, office furniture and tools.
Standing on a step ladder also up for auction, auctioneer Paul Scheer, president of Aaron Posnik Auctioneers in West Springfield, Mass., tried to open bidding at $1 million for the land and buildings, but the three bidders who came with qualifying deposit checks remained silent. When asked for open bids, one man offered $200,000, but Scheer quickly rejected that, calling it “minor interest” and saying the owners would not accept it.
Scheer tried again to start bidding at $500,000, and again was met with silence.
"You sure? You sure?" Scheer called out. "All done. The sale of the property is now canceled."
Vizoukis said the owners next will market the property. He said no real estate firm has been selected yet, however.
Vizoukis talked privately with one of the prospective bidders after the property auction closed.
On Tuesday, Vizoukis said the owners — he and partners Jim Brown, Doreen Sylvestre and Robert Chandler — would try to sell the property if the auction was unsuccessful but would not “give it away.”
Atlantic Packaging, which made cardboard boxes such as for liquor packaging, candy boxes and other entities, lost major customers in recent years and was forced to downsize and finally close, Vizoukis said. But the owners paid off outstanding debts, and the property was offered at auction Wednesday “free and clear of any liens or debts,” Scheer said at the start of the auction.
While only three prospective bidders were interested in the property Wednesday, more than 70 registered bidders readily showed their cards for equipment, machinery, hand tools and items such as industrial fans, step ladders and rolling carts. Some items sold for as little as $5 or $10.
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