News Article | 4/7/2000

Hughes Supply Plans Lewisville Distribution Center

The Business Press April 7-13, 2000 Hughes Supply plans Lewisville distribution center By Ray Khirallah, Special to the Fort Worth Business Press Hughes Supply, a wholesale distributor of building supplies, announced its intention to establish distribution center and regional office in Waters’ Ridge Business Park. The company, which will employ about 60 workers, will inhabit an existing building built by Panatonni Hillwood Development Co. Hillwood has one other building in the business park on Corporate Drive just off Interstate Highway 35E. The new facility will span 129,000 square feet and will house a distribution center as well as office spaces. Orlando-based Hughes Supply and Lewisville Economic Development Coordinator Zane Miller have been in contact since October. The company contacted Lewisville through a broker and Miller found out in January that the city was on a short list of potential sights for the company’s Western region headquarters. The company, which is No. 504 on the Fortune 1000 list, announced its decision Tuesday to move its Western operations to Lewisville. The warehouse portion primarily will distribute plumbing supplies to Hughes Supply branch offices throughout the Southwest. In addition, the company distributes building and electrical materials, plumbing, pool and spa equipment and sewer and water systems. “They have a good reputation. It’s another company that looked at Lewisville and realized the advantages we have, like one of the lowest tax rates in the Metroplex and a business-friendly environment,” Miller said. “The growth of Hughes should keep them a good tenant in Lewisville for years.” Waters’ Ridge is becoming the premiere business park in the Lewisville area. Miller said the development already is about 85 percent full with more prospects on the way. “Our expansion team evaluated numerous locations before choosing Lewisville,” Hughes Supply President Stewart Hall said. “We are very comfortable with our decision and eager to move forward.” Miller said Hughes Supply has been working on Lewisville for about three to four weeks. Tal Hicks, principal with Pantonni Hillwood Development, said Hughes Supply will be a valuable tenant in one of his company’s structures. “We are very excited about having Hughes Supply as a tenant,” he said. “They are part of the approximately 1.2 million square feet of tenants in the last 12 months who have realized the economic and location advantages of Waters’ Ridge Business Park in Lewisville.”