-January 28,2021-
E-commerce giant Amazon looks to add more distribution centers in the south valley. Last month the Bakersfield newspaper said a former Kmart on Wilson Road in Bakersfield is slated to become an Amazon distribution center – their second warehouse development in Kern County. Already open is the new 1000-job Bakersfield airport fulfillment center.Also, a new 1.3 million square foot Amazon warehouse in Visalia is under construction next to UPS and is expected to open in August. Fresno has one too.
Now Shafter will get a new 1 million sq ft Amazon “fulfillment center” according to Joe Vargas, president of Wonderful Real Estate. Wonderful, owned by Stewart Resnick, has a large industrial park anchored by Target in Shafter that includes this one million sf building that has been for lease.
Vargas says Amazon is already underway with tenant improvements.Vargas says he hopes Amazon could be in operation by June. The development could be a big job generator for Shafter and the region. “We don’t know how many jobs will be created but the parking lot has room for 1500 cars.”
Amazon seldom announces these new projects.