IBJNews

  • Home

Hat World expansion to create 571 jobs in Indianapolis

 IBJ Staff
June 10, 2010
Keywords
Economic Development, Economic Development Agencies, Economic Development Incentives, Government & Economic Development, Indiana Economic Development Corp., Lids, Real Estate & Retail, Retail, Retailers, Tax Abatements
Back to TopCommentsE-mailPrint

Hat World Inc., a retailer and manufacturer of sports hats and apparel, announced Thursday morning that it plans to expand its local headquarters and distribution operations, creating as many as 571 jobs by 2015.

The Indianapolis-based company, a subsidiary of Nashville, Tenn.-based Genesco Inc., said it plans to invest up to $22 million to lease and prepare additional space locally as it consolidates manufacturing and warehouse operations from Wisconsin.

Hat World’s 300 local employees currently work out of 195,000 square feet of leased space in Park 100 on the city’s northwest side. Hiring of additional workers is expected to begin this summer as new operations are phased in locally.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. offered Hat World up to $4 million in performance-based tax credits based on the company’s job-creation plans. Indianapolis will consider additional property-tax abatement.

Founded in Lafayette in 1995, Hat World later moved to Indianapolis before being acquired by Genesco in 2004. The company operates more than 900 retail stores in 48 states.
 

ADVERTISEMENT

  • too soon to tell
    Long wayawayJune 10, 2010 3:24 PM
    I know many political types like to tout all these jobs, but "by 2015" is a long way away and alot can happen. Weren't other jobs promised a few years back, yet not materialized.

    Don't count yer chikens b/4 thir hatched.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • I'm with Larry
    meJune 10, 2010 12:45 PM
    It's tough to celebrate getting 500 minimum wage jobs here when the Mayor just sent a $16 million tech project to a firm in NYC.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Jobs are jobs
    MeoupJune 10, 2010 12:03 PM
    Larry, We need minimum wage jobs because we have a large portion of the workforce who are qualified for these jobs (I know I'll take heat for saying that). We've been over paying in certain sectors and now the economy has reset so minimum skill jobs are again minimum wage. When I worked in a warehouse I earned $12.50 an hour I was being overpaid for my duties and skills. At this point people who used to earn a higher wage need to go get jobs, it's what I had to do. I earn 1/3 what I did 3 months ago but I'm earning so you aren't paying for my unemployment, health insurance and food.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Re: Awesome
    DaveJune 10, 2010 11:02 AM
    If it takes people off the streets than it is a good thing! Everybody needs to work...
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • larryjoe@yahoo.com
    AWESOME!June 10, 2010 10:53 AM
    just what we need in Indiana, 500+ more minimum wage warehouse jobs, WOOFREAKINHOO!!! (the Chinese really DO love us, just don't be late with the check, and make sure the payments are in AMERICAN dollars!)
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

Post a comment to this story

COMMENTS POLICY
We reserve the right to remove any post that we feel is obscene, profane, vulgar, racist, sexually explicit, abusive, or hateful.
 
You are legally responsible for what you post and your anonymity is not guaranteed.
 
Posts that insult, defame, threaten, harass or abuse other readers or people mentioned in IBJ editorial content are also subject to removal. Please respect the privacy of individuals and refrain from posting personal information.
 
No solicitations, spamming or advertisements are allowed. Readers may post links to other informational websites that are relevant to the topic at hand, but please do not link to objectionable material.
 
We may remove messages that are unrelated to the topic, encourage illegal activity, use all capital letters or are unreadable.
 

Messages that are flagged by readers as objectionable will be reviewed and may or may not be removed. Please do not flag a post simply because you disagree with it.

ADVANCED SEARCH
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT

facebook - twitter on Facebook & Twitter

Follow on TwitterFollow IBJ on Facebook:
Follow on TwitterFollow IBJ's Tweets on these topics:
 
Subscribe to IBJ

  1. First, the Athenaeum is going to have to get past the hurdle with the Lockerbie residents and the agreement that the parcel would be residential. Second, and in my opinion, this prime piece of property should include parking, PLUS, a black box theater(s), some market rate and affordable artist housing and a plan to renovate and reconfigure the second story theater. I would negotiate to add the DeHaan property surface parking lot into the development mix, place a one story surface parking garage on the DeHaan lot on the street level (for the Dehaan tenants use during the daytime) and add a second story to the garage that would become an addition to the current second story theater and then change the direction of the theater by moving the stage across the alley and on top of the DeHaan lot parking. You can add all the stage elements that are currently missing from the Athenaeum stage to make it more attractive for use by Ballet, Opera and traveling productions. Plus, the theater changes would probably help solve some of the soundproofing issues. Alas,it does not seem to be a part of the strategic plan to conduct a study to determine best use of the property. Seems like the current plan is a quick and easy move that ignores the property best use/potential and any strategic property planning for the effect on future generations.

  2. I recall that MSA's pilings are still in the ground and hard to remove. It’s not likely any proposal will include significant underground construction/parking because of this. Start adding 2 floors of retail, 8 floors of parking and 5-10 floors of possible hotel, and/or 10-20 floors of residential, and you are at 30 floors already with possible expansion of all the uses. But then again I could be wrong.

  3. Accoriding to their website there is no deadline to the Do Not Call list. What is this article referring to??

  4. On what planet are they entitled to this largesse from the stockholders? These people make multi-million dollar salaries: Pay for your own personal travel.

  5. It matters because they're already paid enormously fat salaries: Pay for your own personal travel. Being "taxed on it" isn't a valid excuse--so what? They're still being gifted a raft of luxury perks from somebody else's money on top of an enormous, lavish salary.

ADVERTISEMENT