About a dozen workers already are making furniture deliveries to customers out of the 30,000-square-foot center at 2609 W. College Ave. The center opened its doors last month, but the new Ashley retail store is not expected to open until August because renovations on the space are pending.
Champaign-based developer Mike Bruegge said the center will serve two existing Ashley Furniture locations he manages in Peoria and Champaign. It also will serve the Bloomington store once it opens.
"It reduces our overhead costs," said Bruegge.
Customers also will benefit from the new center, said Bruegge, because it will allow for faster delivery times, reducing them from an average of about 21 days to an average of 10.
"Our business model is this: It goes from the factory to the distribution center and then to our customers. We are moving our product 33 percent less than our competitors," Bruegge said. "That saves the customer money."
The new Ashley Furniture store is set to open in a vacant location of the former location of Big Lots in Colonial Plaza, 1500 E. Empire St., Bloomington.
The new store is a result of an economic incentive approved by city officials in June. The agreement will reimburse Bruegge 50 percent of the city's share of sales tax the store brings in during its first five years, or up to $150,000.
The Normal distribution center is separate from the agreement between Bruegge and the city.
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