With plans to stretch its distribution network to the East Coast, a California housewares distributor signed one of Georgia's largest industrial leases of the year to add even more momentum to a fast-growing market.
After finalizing the lease to fill the more than 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse at 201 Savannah Portside International Parkway, Bradshaw Home — one of the largest gadget suppliers in the world — redeveloped the site to accommodate its newest distribution center set to cater to a growing portion of its customer base. The deal with landlord Panattoni Development Co. created upward of 230 logistics jobs and underscores Georgia's growing appeal among businesses, both of which contributed to it earning a 2024 CoStar Impact Award for lease of the year, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
The new facility, located at the Savannah Portside International Park on the outskirts of Savannah, is the "perfect location from which to reach domestic markets spanning from Dallas to Chicago,” Griff Lynch, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, said at the time of the lease signing.
That access, combined with increased imports landing at the Port of Savannah, has fueled demand among tenants such as Bradshaw that have helped push annual leasing volumes far beyond their pre-pandemic levels.
“Counties near the Port of Savannah are experiencing unprecedented growth, attracting companies with national and global footprints like Bradshaw Home,” Pat Wilson, the commissioner for Georgia Department of Economic Development, said in a statement. “The region around Savannah has an impressive industry mix, with recent wins ranging from automotive to logistics. Effingham County and the Georgia Ports Authority have actively pursued a variety of industries to create a strong local economy.”
About the Project: Located in the Savannah suburb of Bloomingdale, the distribution center is within 19 miles of the Port of Savannah, the fastest-growing and third-largest port in the nation. The property was under construction when Bradshaw Home signed its lease in early 2023, giving it the chance to work with developer Panattoni to finish it out to the company's specifications.
What the Judges Said: "This was one of the largest industrial leases in the state of Georgia this year, and this tenant will help to continue diversifying the Savannah economy at a point in time when the [electric vehicle and automotive] industry is accelerating rapidly," CoStar Impact Awards judge Christa DiLalo, a research director for Cushman & Wakefield, said of the deal.
They Made It Happen: Danny Chase of Colliers represented Bradshaw Home in the deal, while Hilary Shipley, also of Colliers, represented Panattoni. The landlord's senior development manager, Joe Guion, and Dayne Pryor, a partner for the Atlanta region, spearheaded construction for the incoming tenant's finish out.
CoStar Senior Market Manager Dave Blake contributed to this report.