Deal sold his blacksmith shop in 1865 and erected two small buildings across the street, where he began the full-time manufacture of wagons and carriages.

In 1890, he began construction on a new factory building, forming the core of the structure which still stands today.

A number of additions were made to the building from 1893 to 1909, and the factory eventually employed over 100 men.

The company made children's housekeeping toys, which were sold under the Susy Goose name.

In 1949, it started making plastic injection molded toys then in the 1960s made Barbie and Ken furniture and accessories for Mattel.

[9] Over the next 40 years, the building stood underutilized or vacant until 2014, when the Michigan State Housing Development Authority approved a tax credit application by Excel-Sterling LDHA LP to provide Section 42 tax credits for the re-development of the building.

[10] Construction began in 2015 to redevelop the property into the "Heritage Lane Apartments," to provide residential living for 44 families over four floors.

The completed building includes a computer room, management and maintenance offices, a resident library and historic interior décor.

An original JJ Deal Buggy built in the 1890s stands in the building's lobby.

The J.J. Deal and Son Carriage Factory is a four-story brick building with a long rectangular footprint.

Double-hung windows in jack-arch openings are located in the side bays and in the upper floors.