Macy's Starts Hiring Process, Gives Tour Of Owasso Distribution Center

Construction on the Macy's distribution center is more than halfway done, and now it's possible to see the actual size of the 1.3 million-square foot main building - one of the biggest buildings in Tulsa County.

And now that the building is closed in. Macy's has been allowing a few people inside - including some of the stakeholders that made it possible - the county, city and tribal officials. Through them, we're getting a first look inside.

It's hard to imagine the groundbreaking for this building was last April. It's this far along only because of an extraordinary effort to get it finished.

Construction has been going practically around the clock.

8/8/2014 Related Story: Tulsa County Roads To Improve With Construction Of Macy's Distribution Center

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett was one of the key officials given the first look inside, where the mechanics of the distribution center are being installed.

"They really want to get it open," said Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett. "They're looking forward to hiring people and getting it moving because it's a key part of their business plan."

Macy's officials described for them how thousands of employees will work around a dozen miles of conveyors - and utilizing warehouse space that among everything else - will have room for 3 quarters of a million pairs of shoes.

"It will really be quite a place for people to see and contemplate the complicated aspect of shipping a pair of shoes," the mayor said.

Macy's uses a video showing what the distribution center will look like and work like when it's done as a recruitment tool for their network of centers nationwide.

The newest one - and one of the largest - will be here in Tulsa County.

"Some that are smaller and some about this size, but they're confident this one will expand in no time," said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker.

4/17/2014 Related Story: Macy's Breaks Ground On Owasso Fulfillment Center

The Cherokee Nation is helping recruit new hires for the center, and while a few jobs are posted now - the bulk of the hiring starts next month.

The Chief said he had never seen such an advanced operation with so much space.

"Mile after mile it seems, and 14 miles of conveyor belts and tons and tons of storage," he said.

The Macy's center will fulfill orders for the middle section of the country - after it opens late this summer.

Macy's is currently hiring managers and will be hiring the bulk of its new employees during the summer. Find out more online.