Memphis Depot Business Park (Memphis, Tennessee)

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Memphis Depot Business Park (Former Memphis Defense Depot)
2163 Airways Blvd
Memphis, TN 38114
(901) 942-4939 www.memphisdepot.net/home.htm
The Memphis Depot Business Park (MDBP) is zoned for light industrial use and is situated on a 642-acre site, with more than four million square feet of enclosed space.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officially activated the Memphis General Depot in January 1942. The facility is located north of the Memphis International Airport at 2163 Airways Boulevard. There are 130 buildings on site with more than 4 million square feet of enclosed industrial space. The mission of the Depot was to supply the U.S. Army with food, clothing, tools, and engineering equipment. During World War II, the Depot also served as a prisoner of war camp for 800 prisoners. From 1942 until 1962, the installation performed important Army supply missions as the Memphis Quartermaster Depot, Memphis Army Service Forces Depot, and as the Memphis General Depot. In 1962, the installation became the Memphis Army Depot and, in 1964, began providing general supply support to all the military branches. The installation became one of the original Depots in the Defense Supply Agency (now the Defense Logistics Agency—DLA) and the name was changed to Defense Depot Memphis.

The Depot provided logistical support to the U.S. military from World War II through Desert Storm. In May 1943, there were 4,726 civilians and 162 military personnel at the Depot.

On September 30, 1997, after 55 years of service, the 642-acre Memphis Defense Depot closed due to the decisions of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). In response to the federal government's decision to close the doors, the City of Memphis and the Shelby County Government partnered with the economic development community to begin the process of converting the Memphis Defense Depot to non-military use in an effort to recapture jobs.