BLAKESLEE, Pa. — American Tire Distributors Inc. (ATD) will begin shipping products Dec. 3 from a 1 million sq.-ft. mixing warehouse in Blakeslee that's designed to service customers in the U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, as well as in eastern Canada
The building, called the Pocono Mixing Warehouse, is expected to employ 70 and ship more than 2.5 million tires per year, in addition to wheels, tools and automotive supplies, according to ATD. It is ATD's fourth U.S. mixing warehouse.
The warehouse will store all of ATD's proprietary and imported brands, such as Hercules, Ironman, Nexen and Dynatrac. It also will house the company's sixth warranty adjustment center.
Mark Chandler, ATD's senior vice president of supply chain, said the warehouse is ATD's "latest example of how we're keeping the power of choice alive for all of our customers."
He said Pocono Mixing Warehouse "will have one of the largest SKU assortments of any of our mixing warehouses, making it easier than ever for our customers to receive the products they need, when they need them. There's no doubt that the largest and longest-serving technology-enabled distribution network is taking the next step forward."
ATD, which recently announced it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after losing two of its largest suppliers in Goodyear and Bridgestone, is forging ahead, President and CEO Stuart Schuette said.
"The Pocono Mixing Warehouse is an important investment that strengthens our already industry-leading supply chain operations," Mr. Schuette said. "ATD is moving forward with its game-changing transformation to help its customers win."
He said North America's largest tire distributor has "created an optimal environment for ATD to ensure that products are in stock and ready to move when our customers need them. The way Pocono operates will reflect that and it will help keep ATD the industry leader for decades to come."
ATD will host a grand-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony with community leaders, associates and ATD leadership on Nov. 7.
ATD's other mixing warehouses are in Maiden, N.C., Shafter, Calif., and Roanoke, Texas, the latter of which opened in May 2017.
The opening of the Blakeslee warehouse coincides with the closing of 400,000-sq.-ft. mixing warehouse in Findlay, Ohio. Blakeslee is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Pa., about 22 miles southeast of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., with access to Interstate-80.