The former New Departure Hyatt wheel bearing hub assembly plant in Bristol, Connecticut has been sold in what is now Bristol's largest real estate transaction. The sprawling facility covers more than 1.3 million square feet on 182 acres.

Founded in Bristol, New Departure Manufacturing became part of General Motors in 1919. All of GM's Connecticut facilities eventually were consolidated in Bristol.

In 1988, bearing production began shifting away from Bristol and by 1990 was all in New Departure's dedicated bearing plant in Sandusky, Ohio.

Through the 1970's, Bristol's NDH bearing manufacturing operations employed almost 4,000 workers, producing bearings almost exclusively for General Motors. Overall, the massive Bristol facilities employed over 10,000 workers producing hard parts, electrical and mechanical components for General Motors.

Now called the Bristol Business Center, the facility just sold for $60.5 million. It has been subdivided over the intervening years, but is still so large that it comfortably houses massive operations of Clark Steel, Arrett Sales, and Firestone.