Online licensed sports merchandise giant, Fanatics, Inc., is expecting to lay off over 200 employees as it plans to shut down a Westside fulfillment warehouse in August.
The company said it is making this move to provide more efficient shipping opportunities for fans purchasing with the online retailer.
The Jacksonville-founded company filed a letter under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires companies to provide adequate communication before planned closing, to city and state leaders saying it plans to close the fulfillment center on Commonwealth Avenue, according to News4JAX news partner, The Daily Record.
The closure will affect 218 employees.
“Fanatics continues to maintain a strong presence in Jacksonville, employing more than 1,500 employees at its corporate offices. In addition, we continue to operate the in-venue retail business for the Jacksonville Jaguars,” the company said in the letter obtained by The Daily Record.
Fanatics has a corporate office on Nations Way in south Jacksonville.
Terminations will begin April 1 until the center is closed, which is scheduled for Aug. 1, according to the letter sent to Mayor Donna Deegan, City Council President Ronald Salem and the State Trade and Rapid Response Program.
A company spokesperson told TDR that Fanatics “is seeking to ensure its facilities are best equipped to ship its products efficiently and effectively.”
The spokesperson noted that the Westside fulfillment center is one of the company’s oldest buildings.
“This has resulted in continued challenges as we try to keep it up to date to service the needs of our fans as well as meet new demands. To better service our fans within the Southeastern United States, we will be shifting our fulfillment efforts to newer buildings in and around the region where we have access to updated technology and infrastructure to ensure a better fan experience,” the spokesperson said.
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