Garmin purchases more than 190 acres of land in Olathe to expand its facilities
Garmin has purchased 193 acres of land in Olathe near its headquarters in an effort to expand its facilities and workforce.
The land is located at the northwest corner of 151st Street, Interstate 35 and Highway 169, said Krista Klaus, a spokeswoman for Garmin International.
“This land acquisition gives us the ability to grow our facilities and workforce in the City of Olathe, and the State of Kansas, for decades to come,” Garmin CEO Cliff Pemble said in a statement.
Garmin, which was founded in 1989 in Lenexa, Kansas, has its headquarters located at 1200 East 151st Street in Olathe — just east of I-35.
The land acquisition includes a large parcel where the Great Mall of the Great Plains was previously located. The mall opened in 1997 and was 812,000 square feet. But over the years many national brands pulled out and smaller retailers closed, leading to the mall closing in September 2015.
This is the second time in recent years Garmin has expanded in Olathe. In 2016, the company launched a $200 million expansion project at its headquarters. The expansion included a 720-square-foot manufacturing and distribution center.
