ATD's Pocono warehouse represents $70 million investment

BLAKESLEE, Pa. — American Tire Distributors Inc.'s new 1 million-sq.-ft. mixing warehouse in Blakeslee represents an investment of $70 million, the company disclosed at the facility's ribbon-cutting Nov. 7.

The new facility, which is designed to supply other ATD distribution warehouses in the northeast and mid-Atlantic U.S. as well as eastern Canada, will begin shipping tires in early December.

The Pocono Mixing Warehouse, as it's known, can handle more than 2.5 million tires per year — including ATD's proprietary and imported brands such as Hercules, Ironman, Nexen and Dynatrac — along with wheels, tools and other automotive supplies, ATD said.

The facility is ATD's fourth mixing warehouse nationwide and is designated as the wholesaler's sixth warranty adjustment center. It will be staffed by 70 workers under the guidance of General Manager Jennifer Green.

"This investment will not only create jobs and open new economic opportunities for Blakeslee, it will propel ATD forward in our mission to deliver game-changing service to our customers each and every day," President and CEO Stuart Schuette said at the ribbon-cutting.

Mark Chandler, ATD senior vice president of supply chain, said the Pocono team "will be at the vanguard of an industry-leading supply chain, with unparalleled capacity to meet and surpass expectations with every delivery. We're looking forward to beginning shipments next month."

Mr. Chandler also noted Ms. Green, who was hired to manage this facility, brings a "wealth of retail distribution experience" to this job. She has more than 19 years' experience in the distribution segment, according to her LinkedIn page.

Tobyhanna Township Manager John Jablowski Jr. noted the project created 150 construction jobs during the building phase and welcomed the 70 permanent jobs at the facility.

Blakeslee is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, Pa., about 22 miles southeast of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., with access to Interstate-80.

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.