in 1889, menage founded the northwestern guaranty loan company to handle the mortgage side of his real estate business. among the members of the company's board were: john s. pillsbury, william d. washburn, thomas lowry, william henry eustis, loren fletcher, and many other important political and business figures. his real estate business was handled by a separate company called the menage realty company. in 1890, menage further cemented his place in the city by building the northwestern guaranty loan building (more commonly known as the metropolitan building), the city's tallest skyscraper, at a cost of more than $1 million ($ million in ). the building was home to all of menage's various companies as well as other offices, a rooftop restaurant, and a private law library.