Ribbon-cutting held for new $400 million URBN distribution center

Gov. Laura Kelly cut the ribbon for URBN’s new 1.5-million-square-foot omni-channel fulfillment center in Kansas City, Kansas, on Wednesday.

Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie are among those who will be using the $403 million facility bringing 2,000 new jobs in Kansas City, Kansas, by June 2023. The new facility is located near the Kansas Speedway.

“There’s no doubt: This is a transformational project for our state, bringing a brand recognized worldwide and 2,000 good-paying jobs to our doorstep,” Gov. Laura Kelly said. “URBN’s decision to partner with us further shows that we are successfully making Kansas the most pro-business state in the country.”

In addition to Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, other brands in the URBN portfolio include Free People, Nuuly, FP Movement, Terrain, BHLDN, and Menus & Venues. The collection of unique retail brands moving through the Kansas City market will provide good jobs for Kansans, according to the governor.

The fulfillment center, which services wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels, is the company’s first in the United States. It also is URBN’s largest and most automated facility and will be considered the company’s “North Star Showcase for North America.”

“We thought Kansas City was the best position for reaching customers in the shortest amount of time,” URBN Chief Development Officer Dave Ziel said. “The state, including Governor Kelly and Lieutenant Governor Toland, really put their best foot forward. The relationship got off to a great start because of their pro-business perspective.”

“URBN is a company that strives to put people first and that always stays on the cutting edge of not only style trends, but also logistics and distribution best practices,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “They are exactly the type of partner and employer the Kelly administration envisioned recruiting when we prioritized logistics and distribution in the Kansas Framework for Growth.”

URBN appreciated the easy cooperation found among all local organizations and level of government.

“We are fortunate to have Urban Outfitters in Wyandotte County,” said Greg Kindle, president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. “Their interest from the outset to be a part of the community from their focus on providing transit, a commitment to hiring local, to working with local firms, and their socially conscious efforts are to be commended.”

Ziel said they were able to subcontract almost exclusively with local vendors, adding that “building this during COVID was incredible.”

“I have never worked with so many collaborative individuals to bring a project of this size to fruition,” he said.

“As the world’s demand on the supply chain continues, companies like URBN are making strategic investments to meet their customers’ current and future needs. URBN’s selection of Kansas City, Kansas, for its flagship facility reinforces the KC region’s position as a top logistics hub,” said Chris Gutierrez, president of KC SmartPort, an economic development nonprofit. “It’s great to see the URBN facility operational, and the company is making a lasting impact in KCK as it already created – and will continue to provide – resources to support the community.”

• Story and photos from Gov. Kelly’s office