Biggest book seller on Internet opening facility in Nevada

The new distribution warehouse expected to open the first half of this year in Fernley, Nev., will employ more than 300 people by the end of the year, said Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of the Seattle-based company.

It will serve Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Houston and places in between, he said.

The 322,560-square-foot facility covers more than seven acres in the Nevada Pacific Industrial Park along Interstate Highway 80 near Fernley, about 30 miles east of Reno.

"This place is so huge, we can stock far more titles ready to ship right away," Bezos said Thursday.

Amazon.com opened a 202,000-square-foot center in New Castle, Del., in November 1997. The 93,000 square feet of space at its Seattle distribution center is at capacity.

The Nevada facility formerly belonged to Stanley Tools. It recently was acquired by Panattoni Development of San Francisco, which will lease it to Amazon.com. The company declined to disclose the leasing arrangement.

Amazon.com has been selling books, CDs and videos on the World Wide Web since July 1995.

Company officials reported earlier this week sales of about $250 million for the fourth quarter of 1998. That was more than triple the 1997 fourth-quarter level of $66 million.

Some of the 300 jobs at the new facility will be filled by current employees, who will be offered a chance to move to Fernley.

Company officials said they will conduct an open house at the Fernley center Friday, Saturday and Sunday to receive applications for employment.

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