Blue Rock builds hhgregg distribution center

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hhgregg, one of the nation’s leading appliance and consumer-electronics retailers, is expanding to the Mid-Atlantic region with the help of Blue Rock Construction and developer DP Partners.

In January, Blue Rock initiated construction on an 85,000-square-foot distribution center for hhgregg at "LogistiCenter at Logan" Industrial Park in Swedesboro, N.J. Work is expected to be completed by mid-April.

Along with 2,500 square-feet of office space, the new distribution space includes an appliance servicing area complete with utility connections to test appliances. The warehousing and distribution space provides a 32-foot clear height and motion-activated high-output T5 fluorescent light fixtures throughout.

Looking to fill the vacancy left with the shuttering of Circuit City stores in 2009, hhgregg plans to open roughly 40 to 45 new stores by early 2011, increasing their store count from 131 to over 170. Many of the stores will arrive in new markets, such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

hhgregg was founded in 1955 by H.H. and Fansy Gregg as a small appliance store on Indianapolis’ north side. At first, the store carried only washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators and outdoor grills. Today, hhgregg is a leading appliance and electronics retailer operating under the trademark names hhgregg and Fine Line.

Currently, hhgregg operates stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

In April, hhgregg will join UPS, Sears and Brighton Best as the newest tenant in DP Partners’ 362,000-square-foot, multi-tenant warehouse, which boasts a LEED silver certification from the USGBC for its energy-efficient and environmentally-conscious design. In addition to improving the work environment for its occupants this LEED-certified building enables Blue Rock’s clients to lower their carbon footprint and reduce operating costs by improving energy efficiency.

For Blue Rock, the hhgregg distribution center represents the company’s fourth Tenant Improvements venture with DP Partners within this facility. Upon completion and turnover of this space to hhgregg, the facility will achieve full occupancy. To date, Blue Rock and DP Partners have collaborated on four warehouse distribution centers totaling over 1.5 million square feet.