Developer plans massive Midwest distribution hub for Sephora
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A Missouri-based developer plans to build a nearly 750,000-square-foot warehousing facility in Avon for beauty-products company Sephora.
The building, which will serve as Sephora’s Midwest distribution center, is expected to be completed in 2025 by VanTrust Real Estate LLC, a Kansas City firm. The massive building will occupy 61 acres in the Avon Landings Commerce Park along Ronald Reagan Parkway and is expected to open in summer 2025.
The cost of the project for Sephora, which is based in Paris with North American offices in San Francisco, was not disclosed. Sephora North America racked up more than $10 billion in sales in 2023.
“This is a significant project for VanTrust, and we appreciate the relationship we have built with the Sephora team,” Phil Rasey, vice president of development at VanTrust, said in written remarks. “We are thrilled that Sephora has once again chosen to partner with VanTrust, and we appreciate their confidence in our ability to successfully deliver the project in a timely manner.”
VanTrust has already developed a distribution facility for Sephora in Las Vegas. The Avon project marks the second phase of the 119-acre Avon Landings business park, which it broke ground on two years ago at a former regional airport property.
The company is also developing the Air 70 Logistics Park in Hancock County.
The first phase of Avon Landing is expected to consist of three buildings totaling 732,000 square feet. The first building, a $30 million, 332,000-square-foot structure, has already been finished, while the other two buildings are still under construction. VanTrust said the park received a 10-year real property tax abatement.
While each of those buildings have been developed on a speculative basis, the 746,672 square-foot Sephora facility is a build-to-suit project that will occupy the entire acreage assembled by VanTrust for Avon Landing’s second phase.
“Sephora is proud to be able to grow our network of distribution centers to continue to elevate our consumer experience. A multi-state search culminated in selection of Avon Landings Commerce Park as the ideal site for our Midwest distribution center,” Joe Zarzycki, vice president of planning and engineering for Sephora, said in a written statement. “Its proximity to a large metropolitan area and transportation hubs will provide direct access to our customers throughout the country. We look forward to the completion of the project and appreciate our continued relationship with VanTrust.”
Ryan Cannon, town manager for the Town of Avon, noted, “We were very pleased to partner with VanTrust in the creation of Avon Landings Commerce Park, and are thrilled to welcome a nationally recognized company like Sephora to the area. This project aligns with our focus of attracting companies to our region that will not only provide jobs but will also help to stimulate the local economy.”
The architect on the project is Atlanta-based MacGregor Architects, while Pepper Construction is the general contractor. Sephora was represented on the deal by Toby Mink and Andrew Morris with the Indianapolis office of Dallas-based brokerage CBRE.