Less Than a Year After Groundbreaking, VanTrust Leases Its Second One-million-square-foot Warehouse, Rickenbacker Exchange, Building II, to HanesBrands Inc.

HanesBrands’ deal marks the largest speculative building leased in Central Ohio this year.

VanTrust is pleased to announce that its second one-million-square-foot building at Rickenbacker Exchange in the village of Commercial Point has been leased by HanesBrands Inc., maker of everyday apparel known by consumers around the world. The 1,194,865-square-foot building, located at 521 Exchange Way, will be the largest speculative building developed in terms of square footage in Central Ohio this year and the biggest VanTrust has built in the region to date. HanesBrands signed a long-term lease and is expected to begin operations by the end of the year.

“We are excited to further expand development in the Rickenbacker area, and welcome HanesBrands to Central Ohio,” said Phil Rasey, vice president of development at VanTrust. “Nationally, we’re finding that most well-established companies are looking for large spaces to consolidate their warehouses. Recognizing this trend, VanTrust has completed at least one million-square-foot building in each of its offices across the country. In the span of just two years, we’ve built two warehouses of this size at Rickenbacker and quickly leased both. We think that kind of momentum speaks for itself.”

The industrial park known as Rickenbacker Exchange at Commercial Point will, when fully completed, encompass more than 900 acres of shovel-ready ground. The project began in the fall of 2020, with the first building, a 1,022,000-square-foot warehouse, completed and leased by May 2021. VanTrust broke ground on the second structure in June 2021, and it was leased this June. Completion is expected no later than the end of the year.

“We are pleased to partner with VanTrust and make an investment in the region,” said Jeff Pitts, Vice President, Global Real Estate for HanesBrands. “The location allows us direct access to customers throughout the country, and we look forward to beginning operations later this year.”

Michael Linder of Colliers represented VanTrust as the listing agent, while Brian Knowles, Mike Spencer and Todd Spencer with Lee & Associates represented HanesBrands Inc.