• Contact
Friday, May 9, 2025
  • Login
Oklahoma Business Voice
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Aerospace
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Federal
    • Film & Television Industry
    • Finance
    • Health Care
    • Innovation
    • Issues Affecting Oklahomans
    • OBV One-on-One
    • Opinion
    • Politics & Elections
    • Taxes & Budget
    • Tribal
    • Workforce Development
    State Capitol of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City

    Oklahoma unemployment tax reform bills head to Gov. Stitt

    Owen May (center-left) interning at Bartlesville Business Operations & Innovation Center.

    Gov. Stitt signs Oklahoma internship, apprenticeship growth bill into law

    A cheerful orange food truck adorned with decorative lights and vibrant designs, serving food items to customers amidst an energetic night fair setup with string lights.

    Gov. Stitt signs Food Truck Freedom Act into Oklahoma law

    Photo from Northern Oklahoma College

    OK Commerce Dept launches education, workforce incentive

  • Sign UpNEW
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Aerospace
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Federal
    • Film & Television Industry
    • Finance
    • Health Care
    • Innovation
    • Issues Affecting Oklahomans
    • OBV One-on-One
    • Opinion
    • Politics & Elections
    • Taxes & Budget
    • Tribal
    • Workforce Development
    State Capitol of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City

    Oklahoma unemployment tax reform bills head to Gov. Stitt

    Owen May (center-left) interning at Bartlesville Business Operations & Innovation Center.

    Gov. Stitt signs Oklahoma internship, apprenticeship growth bill into law

    A cheerful orange food truck adorned with decorative lights and vibrant designs, serving food items to customers amidst an energetic night fair setup with string lights.

    Gov. Stitt signs Food Truck Freedom Act into Oklahoma law

    Photo from Northern Oklahoma College

    OK Commerce Dept launches education, workforce incentive

  • Sign UpNEW
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!
No Result
View All Result
Oklahoma Business Voice
No Result
View All Result
Home Uncategorized
The new Sam's Club distribution center in Oklahoma City. It's the state's first Sam's Club distribution center.

The new Sam's Club distribution center in Oklahoma City. It's the state's first Sam's Club distribution center.

Walmart Inc. cuts ribbon on Oklahoma’s first Sam’s Club distribution center

Hicham Raache by Hicham Raache
January 25, 2024
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 5 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – The ribbon was cut on Oklahoma’s first Sam’s Club distribution center during a ceremony attended by U.S. Congressman Frank Lucas and members of the Oklahoma Legislature.

Sam’s Club management personnel and employees gathered for the ceremony inside the vast Oklahoma City-based distribution center. They stood in front of a stage from which Sam’s executives, Lucas and the legislators spoke.

Sam's Club employees at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new distribution center in Oklahoma City.
Sam’s Club employees at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new distribution center in Oklahoma City.

The 300,000-square-foot distribution center, located at 2400 S. Council Road, will have 130 employees and supply dry goods to Oklahoma Sam’s Club locations.

Though there are multiple Walmart distribution centers in Oklahoma, this is the Sooner State’s first Sam’s Club distribution center.

“The significance of this is going to be huge for not only associates [and] economic development, but also to be able to provide great customer service to our clubs and be able to be here locally to the members here in Oklahoma,” said Bryan Patrom, director of Sam’s Club’s DC Operations.

The new distribution center will result in quicker customer service for Oklahoma Sam’s Club members.

“It’s going to get the product to the to the clubs faster,” Patrom said. “So, not only are we servicing clubs, but we’re also shipping to customers’ homes out of this facility. Instead of the long transportation from an out-of-state facility, with us being local, the transportation time is cut way down.”

The ribbon being cut on the new Sam's Club distribution center.
The ribbon being cut on the new Sam’s Club distribution center.

Oklahoma City’s distribution center is significantly larger than the typical 70,000-square-foot Sam’s Club cross-stock warehouse, Patrom said.

“This is considered a multi-distribution center where we’re going to also do buffer storage and fulfillment and pallet sortation. It’s the new design for all Sam’s facilities going forward,” he said.

Operations at the distribution center will begin on Feb. 14, according to Patrom.

Lucas, R-OK-3, said the warehouse – a $40-million infrastructure investment – and the 130 jobs it creates are a boon for Oklahoma.

“It’s just one of those things that drives the economy forward and it could have been somewhere else,” Lucas said while speaking with Oklahoma Business Voice.

Rep. Frank Lucas speaks during the ceremony.
Rep. Frank Lucas speaks during the ceremony.

Sen. Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, attended the ribbon cutting and referenced Walmart founder Sam Walton’s biographical connection to Oklahoma. Walton was born in Kingfisher in 1918.

“It’s significant, especially being 50 miles from the place where Sam Walton was born, to being right in the middle of the United States, to being able to have a distribution center here that that can attend to the needs of Oklahomans and places and people elsewhere,” Brooks said. “It shows that Oklahoma is strong [and] the south side of Oklahoma City is strong and worth investing in.”

A friendly business environment in Oklahoma will encourage more companies to expand into the Sooner State, Lucas said.

“It’s a combination of tax code issues, regulatory issues and infrastructure. You’ve got to have good highways and roads or transport to get [in and out of Oklahoma]. And it also involves education,” Lucas said.

Workforce development is key to attracting big companies to Oklahoma, Brooks said.

“We have workers ready to be able to do these types of jobs. And so whether that has to do with technology or it has to do with those beginning jobs, now we got to have people available and willing to work, and so that’s why I’m proud to be from the south side of Oklahoma City,” Brooks said.

Sen. Michael Brooks giving remarks during the ceremony.
Sen. Michael Brooks giving remarks during the ceremony.

Raising the standard of living in Oklahoma will also help entice company expansion into the state.

“We’ve also got to be willing to be able to make Oklahoma a better place to live, and that means becoming an attractive place when it comes to education, when it comes to quality of life, to be able to make those things more attractive so that when companies look, their employees are going to want to relocate here,” he said.

Gov. Kevin Stitt expressed enthusiasm for the new distribution center when its development was announced in August.

“Since Sam’s Club first opened in Oklahoma in 1983, Sam’s has been an important economic driver for our state,” Stitt said. “I am thrilled that partnership will continue as the company brings 130 long-term jobs to Oklahoma with this new distribution center.”

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt also praised the investment in August, saying the new facility will be the latest addition to southwest Oklahoma City’s growing distribution corridor.

“We are excited to extend our long-term partnership with Walmart and Sam’s Club to include this new distribution center,” Mayor David Holt said. “Oklahoma City’s population continues to grow and as both our city and the company expand, we look forward to working together.”

Brooks said he anticipates more business developments in Southwest Oklahoma City.

“Up and down this corridor, especially right here on Council, you see all these distribution centers being set up that employ lots of people. It seems like this area is becoming a kind of a mecca when it comes to these types of distribution centers,” he said.

Walmart employs more than 35,000 people across the state, making it Oklahoma’s largest employer.

Tags: Bryan PatromCongressman Frank LucasDistribution CenterOklahomaOklahoma CitySam WaltonSam's ClubState Senator Michael BrooksU.S. Rep. Frank LucasWalmart
ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Gov. Stitt, Chickasaw Nation sign new compacts; Oklahoma Senate leader praises both

Next Post

State Chamber of Oklahoma’s legislative agenda seeks workforce, economic development, tax reform

Related Posts

Oklahoma middle schoolers shine in National Civics Bee
Education

Oklahoma Civics Bee finalist says cell phones in classrooms distract students from learning

November 11, 2024
American Airlines' Tulsa Maintenance Base. Photo from American Airlines
Uncategorized

American Airlines adding over 300 new jobs to Tulsa maintenance facility

September 9, 2024
State Chamber & Farm Bureau File Challenge to SQ 832
News

State Chamber & Farm Bureau File Challenge to SQ 832

November 20, 2023
FFA
Uncategorized

More students than ever before joining Oklahoma CareerTech organizations, developing future work skills

March 29, 2023
Oklahoma State Capitol
Education

State Chamber of Oklahoma announces 2023 Legislative Agenda

January 25, 2023
Next Post
State Chamber of Oklahoma’s legislative agenda seeks workforce, economic development, tax reform

State Chamber of Oklahoma's legislative agenda seeks workforce, economic development, tax reform

Oklahoma Business Voice

© 2023 Oklahoma State Chamber.
Powered by High Five Media.
Privacy Policy

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • News
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!

© 2023 Oklahoma State Chamber.
Powered by High Five Media.
Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.