Shoemaker Vans Inc. is moving its corporate headquarters back to Orange County, according to real estate brokers.
Vans, a unit of Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp., is leasing 104,000 square feet of office space at 6550 Katella Blvd. in Cypress.
The property is part of BKM Development Co.’s two building, 554,000-square-foot Cypress Commerce Park. The redeveloped property, a combination of office and warehouse space, previously was a distribution site for Panasonic Corp.
Vans, known for skateboarding shoes and apparel, was founded in Anaheim in the 1960s. It’s been based in Santa Fe Springs for the past several years. Company officials said in June that they were looking to move back to OC, home to a number of action sports apparel makers.
The lease is valued at $15.3 million, according to Phil Lombardo of Trammell Crow Co., who represented Vans. Costa Mesa based BKM Development was represented by CB Richard Ellis Group Inc.
Not all of Vans’ operations will be moving to OC. The company’s distribution facilities reportedly are being relocated to an 800,000-square-foot building in Visalia that is already used by other VF Corp. brands.
VF Corp bought Vans in June 2004 for $396 million.
