What's New

Walker exhibited at the Logistics Conference 2011 of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) for the sixth consecutive year.

The Conference once again gave The Walker Companies the opportunity to demonstrate the firm’s proprietary site selection optimization model, WISER, which builds on network analyses to optimize labor costs, taxes, labor availability, labor union avoidance, and other critical quantitative and qualitative site selection objectives.

The conference brought together representatives of all major retail and consumer product segments, along with relevant solutions providers. Top supply chain executives from the largest, fastest growing and most innovative retailers attend RILA's Logistics Conference.

Martinsburg, WV - The Walker Companies represented Macy's, Inc. in the site search and incentive negotiations for a 1.3 million SF                e-commerce fulfillment center on 95 acres.  Walker also performed operating and labor cost analyses in support of this project.

Gainesville, GA - The Walker Companies represented Continental General Tire in its lease renewal of a 500,000 SF distribution center on 53 acres.

Phenix City, AL - The Walker Companies represented Michelin North America in its lease renewal of a 36,000 SF service center.  The lease renewal commenced July 2010 and expires June 2020.

The Walker Companies have also represented the following clients...  

• EFACEC Group of Portgual in its site selection of Effingham County, GA for its 450,000 square foot manufacturing facility.
• North American Pipe Corporation for site selection and development of a 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility to be located in Yucca, AZ.
• Macy's, Inc. in the acquistion of an 850,000 square foot distribution in Minooka, IL.

The Walker Companies recently joined the 15,000+-member U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit organization composed of leaders working to promote sustainability in building design and construction.   USGBC is best known for the development of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and the LEED Professional Accreditation program, administered through the Green Building Certification Institute.  Gabe Callol, P.E., Vice President of Development Services at Walker, is currently working toward a LEED Accredited Professional (AP) designation.  To learn more about the USGBC, click here.

Kevin Hourican, SVP of Direct to Consumer Logistics for Macy’s, Inc., showcased how their new Goodyear, AZ distribution center solved one of the retail giant’s supply chain challenges. Walker advised Macy’s on site selection, incentive and real estate negotiations and project management for the 600,000 SF fulfillment center, which Hourican cited as the top performer in Macy’s six facility DC network. Hourican attributed much of the success of the Arizona facility, which opened in June 2008, to Walker’s comprehensive operating cost analysis, labor assessment and project coordination.  Click here to view Macy's presentation.

The Walker Companies’ were one of three Atlanta businesses whose proactive marketing strategies in a difficult economy were featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article—“Smart Companies Stay Busy.” To read how Walker implemented its business development plan, click here.

Hazleton, PA - AutoZone, the nation's largest auto parts retailer, constructed a 600,000 sq. ft. distribution center in Pennsylvania. AutoZone was represented by Walker, who advised the company on site selection and development of the facility. The building is located on 60 acres in the Humboldt Industrial Park North, Hazleton (Luzerne County), PA. When fully operational, the distribution center will employ approximately 400 employees and distribute parts and products to AutoZone stores in the Northeast.

Walker assisted AutoZone with location analysis, operating cost studies, incentive negotiations, real estate acquisition, and construction management.

Walker Represents Macy's, Inc. - 10/30/07
with two separate distribution center transactions.

Goodyear, AZ - The Walker Companies represented Macy's in its selection of Goodyear, AZ for its newest fulfillment center. This direct-to-consumer distribution facility, serving the western U.S., will be 603,000 SF with an investment of almost $100 million. Phase I of the new operation will employ approximately 500 full-time associates. The Arizona distribution center is designed to accommodate a future expansion of 400,000 SF.

Walker assisted Macy's with location analysis, operating cost studies, incentive negotiations, real estate acquisition (36 acres) and preconstruction planning. Construction for the Goodyear, AZ facility (located in the western suburb of Phoenix) will begin in spring 2007 and is scheduled for completion in spring 2008.

Minooka, IL - Raymond Walker, SIOR and Daniel Wald of The Walker Companies represented Macy’s Retail Holdings, Inc. in the acquisition of an 850,000 square foot distribution center in Minooka, IL. The facility, which is located in Minooka Ridge Business Park (approximately 50 miles southwest of Chicago), was purchased from Opus North Corporation. The Walker Companies were assisted in the transaction by Trevor Ragsdale of the Chicago office of The Staubach Company.

The facility, initially employing an estimated 210 full- and part-time associates, is scheduled to open in early spring 2008. It will be operated by the Macy's Logistics and Operations division. As the new facility is phased in, Macy's will phase out operations at an existing multi-story distribution center in downtown Chicago, built beginning in the 1930s.

Macy's, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's premier retailers, with fiscal 2006 sales of $27 billion. The company operates more than 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Prior to June 1, 2007, Macy's, Inc. was known as Federated Department Stores, Inc.