Hallmark Announces Closure of Enfield Distribution Center

Hallmark has announced that it will consolidate distributions operations next year, closing its Enfield facility which could mean that 570 workers could lose their jobs if they don’t apply for positions at Hallmark’s other facility — in Missouri, according to reports.

On Tuesday, Hallmark announced it will close the 1 million square foot distribution center at 25 Bacon Rd. in Enfield by the end of June 2016, according to WFSB.

The company said it will consolidate and manage distribution operations through its Liberty Distribution Center in Liberty, Mo.The distribution center in Enfield has been in operation for 62 years.

And the decision brought criticism from Republican legislators on Tuesday afternoon.

State Sen. John A. Kissel (R-Enfield) and Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano (R-North Haven) expressed serious concerns regarding Hallmark’s plans to consolidate operations to Missouri and close the Enfield, Connecticut Hallmark Distribution Center by the end of June 2016, resulting in 570 employees losing their jobs.

“The loss of 570 local jobs is heartbreaking,” said Senator Kissel. “This closure will send a tremor throughout our community that will be felt by many. My heart goes out to the families who will be impacted and the hundreds who will be unemployed as a result. Hallmark has been an integral part of our community for over 60 years. This is a huge loss for Enfield.”

“This is another sad, but not surprising, piece of news for Connecticut residents,” Fasano said in a statement. “I’m sure Governor Malloy will be quick to jump to excuses for Hallmark’s departure, but the fact remains that there are no excuses for the governor’s failed policies. Unfortunately, this may be the beginning of a mass exodus of Connecticut jobs. Connecticut’s business environment cannot compete with other states. So when a company is deciding between two locations, it’s sadly not surprising that CT would lose that battle.”

There wasn’t immediate reaction from Malloy’s office on Tuesday evening.

It was back in 1952 when Hallmark opened its East Coast distribution in Enfield. The Bacon Road facility opened in 1980. Hallmark cited streamlining operations and substantial cost savings as the reason for their decision to close the Connecticut location, according to WFSB.

According to the Hallmark website, the facility fills and ships orders for Hallmark retail customers located along the East Coast from Maine to Florida and west to mid-Ohio and mid-Michigan, and about 40 percent of Hallmark products, including greeting cards, gift wrap, gifts and Keepsake ornaments, ship out of Enfield, to stores across the country.

The WFSB story can be found here.

Photo credit: consumerqueen.com.