TJX, which also owns such off-brand retailers as Marshalls andT.J. Maxx, hopes to begin work on the massive 800,000-sf buildingby January, with completion slated for next autumn. Along with thestand-alone building, the 68-acre parcel will also support parkingfor 500 vehicles and 350 truck trailers.

Company spokeswoman Sherry Lang says the facility willconsolidate Homegoods wares that are currently scattered in variouscompany distribution centers throughout the region, none of whichare dedicated solely to that operation. While not the company'slargest distribution center, Lang says the Freetown property "willbe on the upper end." Homegoods also operates in Florida, theMidwest and California.

"Homegoods is a rapidly growing, successful division of ourcompany," says Lang. After beginning 2,000 with 51 Homegoods, TJXplans to add 30 stores both this year and next, and eventually seesit as a 500-store operation. The Freetown complex will supplyHomegoods throughout New England, although Lang could not provide aprecise number of stores that will be served. She was also unableto estimate the number of jobs that will be generated by the plant,except to say she believes it is "a substantial" number.