ProStar moving to Menomonee Valley district

Flooring company to join St. Paul Ave. home decor area

A Mequon-based flooring firm is moving to the Menomonee Valley, becoming the latest business in Milwaukee’s growing St. Paul Ave. home decor district.

ProStar Surface Inc. is leasing 8,500 square feet at the Brass Light Gallery building, 1101 W. St. Paul Ave., said owner Hal Koller. The company will use that space for offices, a showroom and warehouse space.

ProStar plans to move by Sept. 1 from its Mequon office and its Cedarburg warehouse.

The Milwaukee site will provide a more central location for ProStar, and offer enough space to consolidate the office and warehouse, Koller said.

It also will be close to architectural firms based in downtown, the Historic Third Ward and Walker’s Point that work with ProStar on various projects.

Finally, Koller said, ProStar will fit the nascent home decor district that is emerging on W. St. Paul Ave.

The company, founded in 1979, is considering an expansion into residential flooring, he said.

The district includes Brass Light Gallery, House of Stone and BBC Lighting, with plans for a future art gallery as well as Riverview Antique Market’s new home.

The city’s updated Menomonee Valley development plan includes the district as one of the valley’s major future projects.

ProStar focuses on installing basketball courts, playgrounds and other athletic surfaces. Its project sites include the basketball court at the new Milwaukee Bucks training facility.

ProStar has about 40 employees, with most of them working at projects throughout Wisconsin and other states, Koller said.

The Milwaukee headquarters will have about 10 employees.

The company operated on Milwaukee’s north side before moving a few years ago to Ozaukee County.

“We’re returning to Milwaukee,” Koller said.