Walmart moves Johnson County warehouse operations to Topeka, offers 318 workers transfer

Walmart is relocating its e-commerce distribution operations in Edgerton’s industrial park to its warehouse in Topeka, a company spokeswoman said Monday, adding that its 318 employees have been offered the chance to transfer.

Spokeswoman Camille Dunn said Walmart plans to move its operations in Edgerton to its fulfillment center in Topeka, which opened at 1303 S.W. Innovation Parkway in 2021.

The Edgerton facility, at 30801 W. 191 St., won’t remain vacant, she said. Sam’s Club Supply Chain plans to take over the warehouse. Dunn said many employees were offered the option to work at the new Sam’s Club warehouse, which is owned by Walmart.

Other employees, she said, have been given the choice to relocate to Topeka or another site, with a $7,500 transfer bonus.

Walmart on Friday filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice, reporting that 318 employees at the Edgerton warehouse would be laid off. The federal law requires employers to notify workers of a plant closing or mass layoff.

The distribution center was previously leased by e-commerce company Jet.com, which was acquired by Walmart in 2016.

Kara Banks, a spokeswoman for the city of Edgerton, declined to comment, saying it was a private business decision.

Walmart has been among the corporate giants making up the Logistics Park Kansas City intermodal facility in this Johnson County city, 40 miles southwest of downtown Kansas City. The industrial park, bolstered by a package of tax incentives, opened in 2013 and now spans dozens of buildings, run by other big names including Amazon, UPS and Hostess, and employs thousands of workers.

This story was updated to add comments from a Walmart spokesperson.