Office building a slice of life in central Lodi

A train idles near the triangle-shaped building at the intersection of Lockeford Street and North Pleasant Avenue on Monday afternoon in Lodi. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Office building a slice of life in central Lodi

By Chris Nichols
News-Sentinel Staff Writer

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 6:53 AM PDT

Comments (6 comment(s))

From afar, the small white stucco building at 305 W. Lockeford St. could perhaps be mistaken for a generous slice of cheesecake.

Up close, however, the oddly shaped office — just west of Pleasant Avenue near the Union Pacific Railroad spur — is more like a slice of life in central Lodi.

And, yes, there's enough space in the two-story building to work. Though it might be nice to have a bit more elbow room.

"You can't sit in it for eight hours — you feel like you're in jail," joked Michael Brusa, who's operated his car insurance agency inside the space since 1994.

Through the years, Brusa has endured countless comments about the shape of the building from passersby, deafening blasts from the locomotive horn and even confused citizens, who for a time thought the office was a bus stop lounge.

Most people ask him what the building looks like inside or just comment about what a "weird" shape it has, said Brusa, who has long, slicked back black hair and a tan face, seated at his desk on the ground floor Monday.

On that floor, there are two desks, six chairs, a couple dozen binders, one small window and just enough space to be cozy, if not comfortable.

Upstairs is a different story.

It's downright roomy, if you can navigate the narrow stairwell that leads up to it. That staircase makes up the skinny, slanted edge of the building, or the "point" of the building.

The top floor also has two desks in addition to eight windows, seven chairs, six filing cabinets, numerous storage boxes and office equipment.

Brusa works downstairs to accommodate clients who might not be able to climb the stairs.

About twice a week, a massive locomotive rumbles past the office, just yards from Brusa's desk — on its way to the General Mills plant.

Lodi's 'cake slice' building timeline

1941: A "cabin" on the property is demolished by owner J. Ginocchio.
1982: Local builder Rod Rosa obtains a permit to build a two-story video arcade.
Early 1990s: Lodi property owner Gary "Buzz" Buzunis buys the building.
1994: Michael Brusa of Lodi moves in and opens his insurance agency, which he still operates today.
— News-Sentinel staff.

"If he lays on the horn, it's like you're in a drum," Brusa said, seconds after the train passed by Monday morning. "It gets loud. It's almost like it comes through the building."

Some of his clients don't realize the tracks are still used by a train and park too close. Brusa even had to help one get her car off the tracks, but well before a train was in sight, he said.

He's had to tell some: "'Hey, you might want to move away from the tracks or you'll be using the insurance.'"

Along with the train and tight quarters, Brusa's had to deal with residents stopping in thinking his office was a bus stop lounge.

He said he eventually contacted the bus company, and the stop was removed, along with the nuisance.

And despite the various inconveniences, Brusa said he's happy with his workplace.

The spot and the price is right, the longtime Lodi resident said.

"The key is Buzz has treated me right with the rent," said Brusa, referring to the building's owner Gary "Buzz" Buzunis.

City of Lodi records show the office was built in 1982 by local builder Rod Rosa with the idea of turning it into a video arcade.

By the time Buzunis bought it in the early 1990s, it was vacant.

For a short period, he said, a church youth group used the space before Brusa moved in.

Buzunis, the local property owner and semi-retired Alaskan fishing captain, said he's always liked "strange properties" and couldn't pass up the building when he heard it was for sale.

He recalled a local real estate broker telling him that she had "'the funniest building in Lodi'" for him. It wasn't long before Buzunis snatched it.

"She just called and said 'You have to look at his building!'" he said.

City planners say the triangular-shaped parcel was undoubtedly drawn that way to accommodate the railroad spur. That line serviced Woodbridge as early as the 1940s or 50s, said David Morimoto, the city's senior planner.

It now ends inside the General Mills plant.

Upstairs in the office, Brusa keeps several framed posters on the wall. One entitled "Imagination" quotes George Bernard Shaw, reading, "Some men see things as they are and say 'why?' I Dream things that never were and say 'why not?'"

Clearly, Brusa and the rest of Lodi have used their imagination to make 305 W. Lockeford St. work for them.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

dogbark wrote on Apr 27, 2007 12:55 PM:

" the one business where people don't fight to get the corner office "

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More Pictures wrote on Apr 26, 2007 10:01 AM:

" It would have been nice to see what it looked like inside! "

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Drudge wrote on Apr 25, 2007 4:04 PM:

" I've always thought this was one of the coolest buildings in town. "

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PAL wrote on Apr 25, 2007 12:07 PM:

" Good Grief. I thougth the same thing. I have seen this exact same story quite a few years ago. "

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ty wrote on Apr 25, 2007 9:23 AM:

" "mike brusa... the hardest working man in america...." "

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Good Grief! wrote on Apr 25, 2007 9:03 AM:

" Spell check in paragraph 2. Also, this was a recycled story that appeared in the paper before, even down to the fact that a church group used to rent the building and the building looks like a slice of cheesecake. Oh, brother. Must be short on news day. "

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