ODW Logistics Expansion in the Greater Chicago Area

ODW Logistics, a leading third-party logistics provider, has expanded its warehouse and distribution network in the Chicago area, having opened three new distribution centers in the last 14 months.

According to real estate advisory firm Newark Group Inc., the Chicago region (extending from Kenosha and Racine, Wisconsin in the north through Chicago’s south suburbs) has the largest amount of industrial inventory space in the company’s database, at 1.16 billion square feet, compared with second-place Los Angeles at just over one billion.

In reporting on Newmark's findings, Freightwaves described Chicago’s logistics real estate market as “scalding hot” and noted, “Chicagoland is attractive to e-commerce companies because of its population of nearly 10 million, its centralized location for fast-cycled e-commerce distribution, and its stature as the country’s transportation hub.”

Within a 250-mile radius of Chicago, the population totals more than 37 million.

‘’We’ve had a presence in the Chicago market for 14 years,” says ODW CEO John Ness. “From our experience there, we could see the need to expand services for our clients and in late 2020 we acquired a 193,000 square-foot frozen storage distribution center in south suburban Romeoville.”

Jeff Clark, Executive Vice President at ODW Logistics added, “That acquisition was the start of an increase in ODW Logistics service for shippers in the greater Chicago area needing frozen storage solutions."

Here is a snapshot of ODW Logistics' presence and growth in the Chicago area over the last 14 months:

5300 Proviso Dr, Melrose Park, IL 60163

Services: Dedicated facility for a single ODW Logistics client. Opened in 2007, the operation expanded this past September from 250,000 sq ft. to 343,000 sq. ft. to scale with the client’s growth.

• Opened: 2007
• 343,000 sq. ft.
• 14 associates

1020 Airport Rd, Romeoville, IL 60446

Services: Frozen (-10F) and temp-controlled (45F) warehousing. Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) racking. AIB and Food Grade certified facility.

• Opened: December 2020
• 193,000 sq. ft.
• 49 associates

9655 136th Ave, Kenosha, WI 53142

Services: Dedicated facility for single ODW Logistics client. The facility will open in Q1 2022 as a food-grade, ambient-controlled operation for a global confectionary company.

• Opening: January 2022
• 158,000 sq. ft.
• 27-30 associates

716 Theodore Court, Romeoville, IL 60446

Services: ODW Logistics' newest distribution center will open in March of 2022. This shared campus will have multiple clients and 70,000 sq. ft. of available space in April 2022.

• Opening: March 2022
• 167,000 sq. ft.
• 80-100 associates

Commenting on the rate of growth in the Chicago area, broker Michael Senner of real estate firm Colliers said, “I don’t see an end in sight,” in a recent Crain’s Chicago Business roundup of the industrial real estate boom.

The article also says, “Developers are building like mad to keep up with the strong demand. Fifty-seven industrial buildings totaling 30.1 million square feet were being built in the Chicago area at the end of the second quarter [of 2021].”

“Chicago is one of the largest industrial bases in the U.S. and consistently leads the nation in investment sales volume,” says CBRE vice chairman, Michael Caprile.

ODW has been a part of this strong market and looks forward to continued growth there.

When we acquired the Romeoville facility in 2020, we were optimistic for its prospects.

“Our new facility at 716 Theodore Court in Romeoville expands ODW’s capabilities for our existing network of food and beverage clients,” says Clark. “It also opens our integrated DC and transportation services to a wider range of shippers seeking distribution facilities in the Chicago market.”

“ODW has a great history of reliable service and supply chain cost controls creating a solid bond of trust with our customers,” Clark adds. “Now we look forward to continued success in this established market as we grow with existing and new customers.”