It’s been so long since we did a biz-is-booming headline we forgot how

CORNWALL, Ont. — A lot of the merchandise that Sam Walton peddles throughout Quebec and the Maritimes makes a pit stop in the Eastern Ontario town of Cornwall, stopping at Wal-Mart’s gigantic warehouse.

The gargantuan warehouse is run by Supply Chain Management, (SCM) and it’s one of three servicing Canada. The other two are in Calgary and Mississauga.

Starting in late 2010, a lot of other consumer stuff is going to be stopping at Cornwall, too. Because last week, Matrix Logistics, the warehousing arm of Shoppers Drug Mart and Phamaprix, announced that it’s erecting a 500,000-sq-ft facility, effectively making Cornwall, pop. 47K, the distribution capital of the East.

"This is a fantastic announcement that further solidifies Cornwall’s position as a strategic location for logistics and distribution operations in North America,” said Mayor Bob Kilger.

Bob Gauthier, founder and President of Cornwall-based Seaway Express, couldn’t agree more heartily.

Gauthier attributes much of Seaway’s growth to the appearance of the SCM warehouse. His own warehouse is strategically placed to serve the giant facility (which enforces strict drop-off-and-pick-up schedules) and Gauthier says the appearance of the Shoppers warehouse should bring even more business opportunities to truckers in the area.

The new warehouse will be in Cornwall’s Business Park, which is alongside the 401 and already home to Seaway, SCM and about 49 other companies employing almost 5,000 people.

The new Matrix warehouse itself is expected to create 130 full-time jobs.

“It’s a positive step and a very good thing for Cornwall,” Gauthier told todaystrucking.com.