American Eagle Outfitters plans to establish a $41 million distribution center in Salisbury, North Carolina, servicing the southeastern U.S., according to a July 17 news release from the state's Department of Commerce.
The facility, located northeast of Charlotte, will create more than 200 jobs, per the release. Officials highlighted North Carolina's transportation network and location – with 150 million consumers within a day's drive – as benefits for companies establishing warehouse operations in the state.
"North Carolina offers the workforce, infrastructure and strategic location needed to continue powering our brands and connecting us to customers," Jay Schottenstein, American Eagle Outfitters' executive chairman of the board and CEO, said in the release. "We're proud to have a presence in Rowan County and are excited about what this facility means for the long-term growth of our supply chain and distribution network."
The 472,980-square-foot facility at Innovation Logistics Center is expected to begin operations in early 2027, according to a news release from Rowan County's economic development council. The property features 84 dock doors and four drive-in doors, per commercial real estate marketplace Loopnet.
Other retailers have also announced plans to open distribution centers in North Carolina since last year, including Walmart, Macy's and Ahold Delhaize USA.
The Salisbury location adds to American Eagle Outfitters' roster of supply chain facilities. As of January, the retailer owned distribution centers in Kansas and Pennsylvania and leased regional distribution facilities in seven U.S. cities, according to a securities filing. The regional facilities were previously used by its now-scrapped Quiet Logistics segment.
In May, American Eagle Outfitters launched a West Coast distribution center in Phoenix, Schottenstein said in an earnings call earlier this year.
