AVONDALE, Ariz. – Ashley Furniture’s major new manufacturing and distribution campus outside of Phoenix is one step closer to reality after the city of Avondale approved the first part of its development this week.
The project, announced this past May, involves the construction of two new buildings, each around 550,000 square feet. One will feature an 85,000-square-foot retail showroom, an office, warehouse space and a call center for 200 people. The other will house manufacturing, distribution and office space. The development project will include adding a traffic signal, deceleration lanes, a raised median and driveway construction.
This week, the city voted to approve the rezoning for the project, which includes 75.7 gross acres.
“For nearly two years, we’ve been working with the City of Avondale to have manufacturing and distribution operations at this site,” said Cole Bawek, vice president of public relations and communications for Ashley, in May. “Arizona is a great state for business, and we’re looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”
In total, the expansion amounts to an investment of more than $100 million. Five hundred jobs will be created, and $40 million in sales is expected to be brought in annually. Groundbreaking is set to begin sometime in 2024.
In late 2021, Ashley added a 225,000-square-foot plant in Tolleson, Ariz., also outside of Phoenix. Upholstery is made at the facility, which employs 200 manufacturing workers.