$10M fulfillment center planned at ex-military tank museum

North Carolina digital retail company MerryGoRound plans to invest more than $10 million to open a fulfillment and logistics center in the former home of the AAF Tank Museum in Pittsylvania County, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday.

The company is expected to create 203 jobs at the 400,000-square-foot facility, which will also house MerryGoRound’s live commerce division. Positions will include videographers, graphic designers and live commerce hosts​ as well as logistics and operations roles in warehousing, freight and fulfillment​, according to a press release.

“MerryGoRound’s decision to establish operations in Pittsylvania County demonstrates how Virginia’s strategic location and skilled workforce make it an ideal hub for e-commerce and logistics operations,” Youngkin said in a statement.

MerryGoRound’s live commerce division will facilitate online sales on social media platforms and live streaming marketplaces such as eBay Live, TikTok Shop and Amazon Live. The company works with sellers like Pfootballpete, whose eBay shop offers everything from figurines of Archie comic book characters to Pokémon cards, and Annaya F., who describes herself as a “seven-figure reseller” of name-brand clothing products.

Cabell Barrow, the Danville attorney representing MerryGoRound, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“My client looks forward to working with the county, the county IDA and surrounding community members to create meaningful long-standing careers and repurpose the recently vacated AAF Tank Museum property,” Barrow said in a news release. “They look forward to sharing more details about the project during a ribbon-cutting event that will be scheduled in the near future.”

The AAF Tank Museum closed in 2023 after two decades of operation.

Virginia competed with North Carolina and Puerto Rico for the MerryGoRound project. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Pittsylvania County and the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance to seal the deal.

Youngkin approved a $350,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Pittsylvania with the facility. Additionally, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved a $145,500 grant for the project from the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund. The company is also eligible to receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program. The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, created by VEDP, will support MerryGoRound’s job creation with recruitment and training services.