For $8.5M, you can buy the world's largest picnic basket, which holds 180,000 square feet of office space and a gym — under one condition

If you’ve ever wondered what it would cost to own one of America’s quirkiest office buildings, here’s your chance.

The world’s largest picnic basket — a seven-story office building in Newark, Ohio, that was built to look exactly like one of Longaberger’s iconic woven baskets — has hit the market with an $8.5 million asking price (1).

Must Read

• Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one

• Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP

• Vanguard’s outlook on U.S. stocks is raising alarm bells for retirees. Here’s why and how to protect yourself

The 180,000-square-foot property, which sits on a 21.5-acre campus about 40 miles east of Columbus, has been one of Ohio’s most recognizable roadside attractions since it opened in 1997. But while the building is for sale, the current owner has made one thing clear: Whoever buys it can’t erase what makes it famous.

“I said, ‘That’s not going to happen; it’s got to stay a basket, or I won’t sell it,’” developer and historic restoration specialist Steve Coon, who currently owns the building, told The New York Times (2) of an offer from a prospective buyer who wanted to remove the building’s signature basket handles.

An office building unlike any other

The basket-shaped headquarters was the brainchild of Longaberger founder Dave Longaberger, who insisted that his company’s new headquarters should be an exact replica of its bestselling Medium Market Basket.

According to the Smithsonian Magazine (3), architects initially tried to convince Longaberger to go with a more conventional design, but Longaberger apparently stated that, if people could put a man on the moon, they could certainly construct a building shaped like a basket.

Completed in 1997 at a reported cost of about $32 million, the building is seven stories high and features giant handles arching above a massive glass atrium.

The exterior may be unique but the interior is built with work in mind. It’s a Class A office building with roughly 180,000 square feet of office space, a 30,000-square-foot glass-roofed atrium, glass elevators, a media room, an on-site fitness center and locally sourced woodwork throughout. Designed for more than 500 employees, it also comes with 25 heated underground executive parking spaces and 555 parking spots.

The World’s Biggest Basket stands out by being highly visible along State Route 16 in Newark, near both Ohio State University at Newark and Denison University, with convenient access to Columbus and central Ohio’s growing technology corridor.

Read More: Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here’s where their money is actually going

From basket empire to second chance

The building’s story has been as unusual as its appearance. At its peak, Longaberger was one of America’s largest handmade basket companies, employing roughly 8,000 people and reportedly reaching a valuation of about $1 billion. But after Dave Longaberger’s death, the business struggled and the company eventually vacated the building before filing for bankruptcy, which left the basket empty.

Back in 2016, when unpaid property taxes threatened the property, Smithsonian Magazine reported that the famous building could have been sold at a sheriff’s auction for less than $600,000.

Instead, Coon purchased the property in 2017 for $1.2 million while it was in pre-foreclosure. He later announced he wanted to turn the landmark into a luxury hotel, but those plans stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After years of maintaining the vacant property, Coon has listed it for sale through Shai Hess Commercial Real Estate for $8.5 million.

The Basket Building continues to attract visitors who stop simply to see what’s inside.

“If I’m there, the door opens every single time with somebody saying they just had to come inside and see it,” listing agent Brandon Hess told The New York Times. “People love it; it’s just such a fun building. It brings a smile to everyone.”

Coon is hoping that the next owner embraces the landmark rather than hiding it. He believes the building could become a boutique hotel, a university facility or even an eye-catching headquarters for a technology company.

His long-term goal is also to have the Basket Building added to the National Register of Historic Places.

So if you happen to have about $8 million sitting around, America’s biggest basket is up for grabs. Just be prepared to preserve and maintain the World’s Biggest Basket as one of the country’s most unconventional landmarks.

You May Also Like

• Here are the 7 top habits of ‘quietly wealthy’ Americans. How many do you follow?

• 'Gold still crashing!': Robert Kiyosaki admits he was wrong — but doubles down on his $35K prediction

• The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028 — and experts say most people won't act in time. What to do before the window closes

• I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement. What do I do? Don't panic. Here are 7 ways to catch up fast

Enjoyed this Moneywise story? Click Follow above for more. To get our best content and exclusive interviews first, join 250,000+ readers who subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Article Sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.

Shai Hess (1); The New York Times (2); Smithsonian Magazine (3)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.