Ace Hardware building Virginia warehouse?

Workers have been clearing land for what might be a large Ace Hardware distribution center in Suffolk, Va., according to an article in the Virginia Pilot.  

The Suffolk site is part of a planned 5.8 million-sq.-ft. complex under development on 900 acres by CenterPoint Properties Trust, which is based in Oak Brook, Ill., where Ace is also headquartered.

Last June, the co-op was making local inquiries in the Suffolk area about its need for a 300,000-sq.-ft.-plus warehouse, according to a building specifications request obtained by The Pilot.

Ace's request for bids said the warehouse would need to be 400 ft. by 750 ft. with 80 dock doors. The retailer wanted to be able to expand to 500,000 sq. ft., the article said.

An Ace Hardware spokeswoman declined to comment on the distribution center when contacted by the newspaper, as did a commercial real estate broker for CB Richard Ellis, which is marketing the site for CenterPoint.

Kevin Hughes, Suffolk's economic development director, was quoted as saying: "I'm not ready or able to discuss that at this point."

Workers at the building site told passers-by that the project was for Ace, the article reported. 

When contacted by Home Channel News, an Ace Hardware spokesman declined to comment.