Henderson plant to close, new tenant likely

Wednesday, May 3, 2000 | 10:56 a.m.

Sara Lee Hosiery plans to close its Henderson plant this summer, resulting in the loss of 174 jobs.

The dyeing, finishing and distribution operation in Henderson will be absorbed into the company's Clarksville, Ark., and Rockingham, N.C., facilities.

Michael Flatow, president and chief executive officer of the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based company, said declining sales in the soft hosiery market required the company to trim expenses and reduce manufacturing capacity.

Located at 250 Conestoga Way, Sara Lee opened the 140,000-square-foot Henderson plant in 1985. The company plans to offer local employees the option of either a job transfer to other Sara Lee operations or job search assistance.

John Knott, managing director of real estate broker CB Richard Ellis' Las Vegas office, said there should be little difficulty in finding a new tenant for the vacated Sara Lee plant.

"There's a shortage of big (industrial) facilities in this market," he said. "If it's properly priced and marketed, I don't think they will have any problem finding a new tenant for that plant."