Co-owner Mark Rust said the Crown Printing listing comprises the “whole entity,” which includes the business, its equipment, and the 17,695-square-foot building at 1303 E. Main St.

According to Crown Printing’s website, the company was founded by Ralph and Betty Rust in 1967. Mark and co-owner Edith Ross — his wife at the time — bought the company from his parents in 1999.

Ross said listing the business stemmed from a desire to explore their options rather than a need to unload it.

“As we have aged, we were hoping our kids would want to take the company to the next level,” Ross said. Rust and Ross have two adult children together, along with many other family members who have worked at Crown Printing throughout its decades-long run. “It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen, and Mark and I know we’re not the ones to take it to that other level.”

Crown Printing offers a variety of commercial printing, binding and finishing services. Ross said the owners are curious about what the market is like for their business.

“I like to say that printing is not dying, but it’s changing,” she said. “You have to find ways to diversify and incorporate different things, and maybe someone with the right business and the right ideas will come along.”

Kathleen Munson, president of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, was glad to hear Rust and Ross don’t have any immediate plans to leave the area or their business.

“Their business has been a major partner with the chamber for many years, and they’re the culture and strength behind it,” Munson said of Rust and Ross.

“They’re an asset to this community.”

Since 2001, Crown Printing has been based out of its current building, described on the company site as “an energy-efficient building with a modern environmental design.”

The listing price for the building is $1.65 million, and the facility sits on 1.33 acres.

According to the listing, Crown Printing’s business contacts also are available for purchase.

According to Ross, the company has eight full-time employees and a handful of part-timers.

Rust said Crown Printing’s doors will remain open for the foreseeable future.

“We’re not closing,” Rust said.

“The intent is to keep Crown Printing in operation.”

“This is about possibility,” Ross said.

“We have very loyal customers, and we really like this community.”

[ John Ceballos can be reached at john.ceballos@theledger.com or 863-802-7515. ]