A new distribution hub in north Fort Worth for a national wholesaler of apparel and accessories will bring up to 300 new jobs to the area.
S&S Activewear LLC, a national wholesaler to the imprintable apparel and accessories market, has leased 493,000-square feet at 35/820@Mercantile Center, a 657,000-square foot warehouse and part of a speculative industrial warehouse being built by Dallas-based Hunt Southwest.
Bolingbrook, Illinois-based S&S plans to open its new fulfillment center operation by the end of 2017, less than one year after Hunt Southwest broke ground on the Class A facility.
“This long-term lease highlights Hunt Southwest’s ability to attract quality companies on a rapid growth trajectory and then meet their critical logistical needs with our aggressive, speed-to-market building plan,” said Hunt Southwest Vice President T. Preston Herold. “We know Fort Worth is an ideal location for fulfillment and distribution operations, and it is gratifying when companies like S&S Activewear prove it by making such a significant, long term commitment to the area.”
S&S chose the Hunt Southwest facility for several reasons, including nearby proximity to Fort Worth’s UPS hub, access to Interstate 35 and Interstate 820, and state-of-the-art building amenities, according to Hunt.
The expansion in Texas brings S&S Activewear’s total operational footprint nationwide to 2.2 million square feet.
“With up to 300 new jobs being created, access to Fort Worth’s abundant labor pool was yet another strong advantage to Hunt Southwest’s building,” said Frank Myers, S&S chief operating officer. “The Fort Worth facility marks a big step in S&S’s national growth strategy and our ability to meet the growing demands of our loyal customer base. Our aim is to provide customers across the country with what they need, when they need it – the widest and deepest inventory, pulled with the best accuracy, and delivered in the shortest transit times.”
S&S Activewear was represented by Britt Casey and Mark Collins of Cushman & Wakefield. Hunt Southwest was represented by Trey Fricke, Reid Bassinger and Becky Thompson of Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services.
State-of-the-art amenities of 35/820 @ Mercantile Center include 36-foot clear height, 7-inch thick reinforced concrete sla6b, cross-dock configuration, ESFR sprinkler system, expansive truck court depths, and heavy dedicated trailer parking.
After the S&S lease, 35/820 @ Mercantile Center has 164,000 square feet available for lease and is slated to be substantially completed by September.
Hunt Southwest is a joint venture between Hunt Midwest and Unity Hunt. It is the second real estate development enterprise founded by the Lamar Hunt family. ,