In terms of making a major impact in a region it would be difficult to top the new Walmart direct import distribution center that recently opened within the Ridgeville Industrial Campus along the Interstate 26 corridor between Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina. Walmart is investing $220 million to build the new distribution facility, creating more than 1,000 full-time jobs.
The Walmart Ridgeville Import Distribution Center will supply several of the retailer's regional distribution centers, supporting approximately 850 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across South Carolina and the Southeast U.S. The development of the import distribution center is also a recognition of the emergence of Charleston as a world-class port. Once fully operational, the distribution center is expected to increase volumes at the Port of Charleston by 5%. With the completion of the massive 3 million-square-foot building in May 2022, it has been selected by a panel of local industry professionals as the winner of the 2023 CoStar Impact Awards Commercial Development of the year for the Charleston, South Carolina region.
About the project: The $220 million distribution center is located on land acquired from the SC Ports Authority directly between Interstate 26 and Route 78 in Dorchester County.
What the judges said: "The Walmart Distribution center will be the catalyst for additional industrial development and job creation in our surrounding Charleston communities, it serves to extend the boundaries of Charleston as residential and retail development fills in between Summerville and Ridgeville. Retail follows rooftops, rooftops follow jobs, and jobs begin with industrial and office real estate transactions," said Elyse Welch, partner at Carolina Retail Experts.
"This a very well-deserving recognition based on when this property delivered in a volatile market during COVID while still being able to be competitive and attract renters," said Regional Vice President Chris Carter of Carter-Haston Real Estate Services.
"The fact that this is the largest building in South Carolina and will be providing distribution to more than half the U.S. with processing imports to stores and other distribution centers confirms the impact of this project," said Michael Rose CCIM, vice president and principal, Coldwell Banker Commercial Atlantic.
"This is impressive and a great utilization of the new port facility to support Walmart," added Michael C. Scarafile, president of Carolina One Commercial Real Estate.
They made it happen: South Carolina State Ports Authority.