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A Portland firm that has been in business for 50 years has sold, and it鈥檚 leaving behind a building in the Belmont neighborhood.

Palm Abrasive Co. has used the building at 905 S.E. 14th Ave. since it was constructed in 1978. The family-owned business started in 1961 selling industrial tools, many to companies in the Central Eastside Industrial District. The business recently was sold to Longview, Wash.-based Mallory Safety and Supply. Palm Abrasive鈥檚 13,621-square-foot building is now for sale; the asking price is $2.1 million.

The two-story, flex structure was custom built for Palm Abrasive and features large, glued laminated beams, and a layered rock and paneling exterior. When it was built, it was honored by the Portland Chamber of Commerce for outstanding contribution to the community.

Palm Abrasive, which is selling its remaining inventory, sold products like custom bandsaw blades and grinding wheels.

鈥淎nything in a machine shop is what we had,鈥� said Julie Palm, co-owner of the company. 鈥淚t was always hands on so you could go to the shelf and pull it off like you could at Fred Meyer.鈥�

Frank Palm, the company鈥檚 founder and Julie鈥檚 father, died in 2008, and the business was passed to his children.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just trying to do the right thing,鈥� Julie said. 鈥淚n this economy and at this time, it鈥檚 kind of what we have to do now.鈥�

Julie remembers her father for his commitment to help others.

鈥淢y father really helped the community here with what they needed,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople could always count on my dad for what they wanted. It鈥檚 that lost art of customer service and helping your neighbor.

鈥淭hey just don鈥檛 make them like him anymore,鈥� she said.

For details on purchasing the Palm Abrasive Co. building, contact broker Mitch Page with Capacity Commercial Group at 503-542-4351 or [email protected].听

Block by Block is a weekly look at commercial real estate around Portland. Send suggestions for properties to [email protected].