Ace Hardware plans Re-Distribution Center in Virginia

Ace Hardware Corp. is planning a 336,000-sq.-ft. Import Re-Distribution Center (RDC) in Suffolk, Va.

Ace will be the first tenant to occupy space in the 900-acre CenterPoint Intermodal Center, located at 1006 CenterPoint Dr., which can accommodate up to 5.8 million sq. ft. of industrial facilities. The new Import RDC will receive international goods arriving at the Port of Virginia.

“We investigated several cities along the Gulf and East Coasts to find the ideal location that will allow us to lower costs and provide optimum service to our retailers,” said Lori Bossmann, senior VP supply chain and retail support for Ace. “Suffolk is only 30 miles from the Port of Virginia, which is the most modern port in the United States. We also have the capabilities to expand our new facility up to 500,000 sq. ft. in order to accommodate future needs and anticipated growth.”

The co-op said the new facility -- scheduled for completion May 1, 2012 -- will reduce import and logistics costs and provide an even higher level of service to East Coast retailers, making it possible for Ace stores to more effectively respond to consumer needs dictated by hurricanes and other weather emergencies in the region. 

Ace executives considered the Panamax -- which expands the Panama Canal and is scheduled for completion in 2014 -- an added incentive to selecting the location. Panamax will allow larger container vessels easier access to East Coast ports, further lowering land-transportation costs.

Ace Hardware already operates an 800,000-sq.-ft. Retail Support Center (RSC) in Prince George, Va., which will continue to operate as usual. This RSC receives and warehouses product shipments from thousands of manufacturers. The products are sorted to fill customized orders received from retailers and then shipped to those stores.