Years after its originally scheduled debut, Amazon's $40 million facility in Slidell is finally showing signs of life. While the massive building has stood complete on the outside for some time, recent developments suggest the online retail giant is preparing to bring the long-delayed project across the finish line — albeit with no clear timeline in sight.
Amazon has pulled two key permits from the city of Slidell: one for interior construction and another for building signage. Acting Mayor Bill Borchert confirmed the permits, marking the most tangible step forward in some time for the long-anticipated project located on Town Center Parkway near Old Spanish Trail.
The 140,000-square-foot facility was announced in 2021 with plans to open in 2022, but delays have repeatedly pushed back that timeline. Now, over two years later, the facility remains unopened and unfinished inside.
A Work in Progress
According to Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly, the Slidell site remains part of Amazon's long-term operational plan. While the company still won't provide an expected launch date, Kelly said internal construction is underway.
"Work is ongoing in preparation for the facility to come online," Kelly stated in an email. "That work is currently concentrated on building out our internal construction — including racking and conveyance."
He added that as construction progresses, the company will gain more clarity on when the facility might become operational. However, hiring efforts won't begin until Amazon is within 30 to 60 days of opening.
Local Expectations and Regional Growth
The promise of the Slidell facility has been a point of excitement — and some frustration — for St. Tammany Parish officials. The center is projected to bring between 250 and 400 jobs to the region once operational, and local leaders have long hoped it would boost the area's economy.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Slidell's launch, Amazon has been expanding aggressively elsewhere in Louisiana. Last June, the company opened a massive $200 million, 3.4-million-square-foot fulfillment center at the former Cortana Mall site in Baton Rouge. That site could eventually employ over 1,000 workers. A second fulfillment center opened in Shreveport last October, already employing more than 1,300 people.
Compared to those sprawling operations, the Slidell facility is expected to serve a different purpose. Known as a "last-stop center," its role is to serve as the final waystation for packages before they are delivered to customers' doors. These facilities are essential for Amazon's promise of speedy, often same-day delivery.
The Waiting Game Continues
While the building's shell has been ready for years, it's the inside — outfitted with the complex systems of racks, conveyors, and sorting equipment — that transforms it into a functioning Amazon facility. Until that work is complete, and a timeline becomes clearer, Slidell and its residents will continue to wait for the economic and employment opportunities the center promises to bring.
For now, progress is happening — just slowly, and mostly behind the scenes.
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