Large DCs Land
South of Chicago

In Illinois, two large distribution center projects are rising in the metro area south of Chicago.
        Fast-growing Dollar Tree Stores is building a 1.2 million-sq.-ft. (111,480-sq.-m.) facility in Joliet. When com pleted in mid-2004, it will replace the company's current Chicago-area facility and support store growth in the Midwest. The project will create 50 jobs and retain 150 for the Chesapeake, Va.-based discount variety chain.
        Dollar Tree's search for a new site took about five months and came down to locations in Illinois and Indiana, says Steve White, senior vice president, logistics. Proximity to the current distribution center gave Joliet an advantage as Dollar Tree sought to save jobs. Dollar Tree's new building will be near I-80 and I-55 and just seven miles from the new Burlington Northern Santa Fe intermodal facility. Dollar Tree is investing approximately $70 million in the fully automated facility.

Michaels Stores is building a 700,000-sq.-ft. (65,030-sq.-m.) distribution center in New Lenox, south of Chicago.

        "We looked at a lot of locations," White says. "Our current facility is in Woodridge and Joliet is about 25 miles (40 km.) south. We wanted to stay near our existing facility."
        Dollar Tree has eight distribution centers in operation, six of which have opened since 1998. Two are under construction and White says the company is averaging adding about one per year.
        In nearby New Lenox, Michaels Stores is building a 700,000-sq.-ft. (65,030-sq.-m.) distribution center at the Cherry Hill Business Park. The operation will employ about 200 when it opens in early 2004. Doug Sullivan, Michaels' executive vice president for development, says the company chose Illinois over Indiana and Wisconsin.