Wendy Culverwell
Business Journal staff writer- Portland Business Journal

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Pomegranate Communications Inc., a small art publishing business in the Bay Area suburb of Petaluma, is moving to Portland.

The company leased the former SCS Building at Southshore Corporate Park, near Portland International Airport, and expects to complete the move by late March 2013.

Katie Burke, who co-owns the business with her husband, company founder Thomas Burke, confirmed Pomegranate began scouting Oregon locations as its Petaluma lease was set to expire.

Burke said she and her husband love Portland and wanted to move their art-related company to a more urban setting than their existing suburban location.

“Portland just kind of worked out,” she said.

She expects some of the company’s 30 employees to move to Oregon but details are still being worked out.

The company, which distributes its own work, will move into the 84,184-square-foot Southshore building, 19018 N.E. Portal, near Portland International Airport after racking and other equipment is installed.

Dick Shafer Jr. of Shafer Realty represented Pomegranate; Peter Stalick of Kidder Mathews represented the property.

Thomas Burke began Pomegranate as ThoFra Distributors, a poster distribution company, in San Francisco in 1968. The business began publishing art work in 1970. As the company grew, it moved north in pursuit of additional distribution space.

The company works directly with artists and museums to produce art books, calendars, cards, paper gift products including jigsaw puzzles and children’s items.

Katie Burke said Pomegranate does not disclose revenue.

Wendy Culverwell covers real estate, retail and hospitality.

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Article source: http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/real-estate-daily/2012/10/pomegranate-communications-moving-to.html