Burlington Stores has thrown the switch on its biggest distribution center yet, a roughly 2 million square foot logistics hub in Ellabell, Georgia, that is meant to move merchandise faster across the Southeast. The center opened this month and is expected to feed a busy store opening pipeline as Burlington grows its national footprint, marking a major bet on automation and processing power for the off price chain.
According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Burlington's Ellabell facility sits just inland from Savannah's ports and is built to speed replenishment for Southeastern stores. Burlington's 10 K filing with the SEC lists the property at about 2,057,000 square feet and notes that the company exercised a purchase option on the building during fiscal 2024, with the facility expected to be fully operational in fiscal 2026 (Burlington 10-K). Company filings and reporting present the site as a productivity play aimed at shortening lead times and trimming distribution costs.
Inside the Ellabell hub
Project documents show the center is built for serious volume. The architecture firm on the job reports more than 26 miles of interior conveyors, 155 dock doors, multiple drive in bays and a 40,000 square foot main office with a large employee café and training space. Those choices broad clear spans, lots of dock positions and extensive conveyor systems are typical of high volume retail distribution centers and are meant to speed receiving, sorting and outbound loads. As outlined by POH+W Architects, the building’s systems and amenities reflect the scale of Burlington’s largest DC to date.
Why the location matters
Ellabell sits in an industrial corridor that feeds the Port of Savannah, giving Burlington quick truck and rail access to one of the country’s busiest container gateways. The Georgia Ports Authority has been adding berth, yard and inland terminal capacity to handle growing container traffic and improve cargo flow, a shift that makes port adjacent logistics complexes more attractive (Georgia Ports Authority). Local commercial real estate reporting has pointed to Interstate West and other build to suit parks in the area as prime targets for large retailers that need rapid port connectivity (REBusinessOnline).
Supply chain play and store growth
Burlington has tied this distribution buildout directly to its store expansion push. The company’s regulatory filings and recent earnings commentary have flagged a target of roughly 100 net new stores as part of its ongoing growth cadence. At the same time, Burlington is pressing ahead on a second major hub in Buckeye, Arizona, an effort that industry coverage says is intended to create a coast to coast DC network that cuts distribution costs and speeds deliveries (Supply Chain Dive).
Company representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and local officials have not yet released detailed traffic or workforce plans tied to the opening. For now, the Ellabell hub stands as a concrete sign that logistics real estate near major ports remains central to big box retailers’ efforts to move inventory faster and support rapid store growth.
