ManAboutTown
12-15-2023, 08:45 AM
I received a sale flyer for this property in my email inbox yesterday. Is Hertz still located here or are they vacating?
View Full Version : Hertz Call Center - NW Expressway ManAboutTown 12-15-2023, 08:45 AM I received a sale flyer for this property in my email inbox yesterday. Is Hertz still located here or are they vacating? Bill Robertson 12-15-2023, 09:03 AM My wife still keeps in touch with a couple people that work there. I'll have her ask. Bellaboo 12-15-2023, 04:16 PM I received a sale flyer for this property in my email inbox yesterday. Is Hertz still located here or are they vacating? A lot of the old timers have taken a buyout for the end of this year. Not much left in that building. Bellaboo 12-15-2023, 04:17 PM Maybe they can sell it to Waffle House for a new HQ ? lol Pete 12-15-2023, 04:18 PM I received a sale flyer for this property in my email inbox yesterday. Is Hertz still located here or are they vacating? This looks like a sale/leaseback where Hertz gets money in the transaction and then remains as a tenant. Bill Robertson 12-15-2023, 04:44 PM A lot of the old timers have taken a buyout for the end of this year. Not much left in that building.They've done that every few years forever. They don't really downsize much if at all. They just refill the positions with newbies. My wife got almost 1 1/2 years full pay plus insurance when she took an early out about 15 years ago. seaofchange 12-15-2023, 04:56 PM I received a sale flyer for this property in my email inbox yesterday. Is Hertz still located here or are they vacating? The 2nd page of the OM mentions Hertz being open to leasing 20-30k of the space long-term after the sale. I think they are just trying to relieve themselves of an asset that they aren’t fully utilizing. Dob Hooligan 12-15-2023, 05:09 PM Buddy who used to work there talked to buddy that still does. As the fine gents have mentioned upthread, Hertz is doing their regular buyout and downsize effort. This time it appears they are trying to get almost all the way out of this complex. I think they still have people out by Quail Springs, and not much else. Bill Robertson 12-15-2023, 05:28 PM Buddy who used to work there talked to buddy that still does. As the fine gents have mentioned upthread, Hertz is doing their regular buyout and downsize effort. This time it appears they are trying to get almost all the way out of this complex. I think they still have people out by Quail Springs, and not much else.That's pretty close. One of my wife's contacts who still works there just sat down at our Friday night spot. She works at Quail and says they're going to early out a bunch and cram more people in Quail and get NW Exp as small as possible. But if history repeats itself they'll end up hiring a bunch and need more space on NW Exp. HOT ROD 12-15-2023, 10:41 PM flexibility Bellaboo 12-17-2023, 08:52 AM Buddy who used to work there talked to buddy that still does. As the fine gents have mentioned upthread, Hertz is doing their regular buyout and downsize effort. This time it appears they are trying to get almost all the way out of this complex. I think they still have people out by Quail Springs, and not much else. Besides 5601 NW Expressway, the only other place in town for Hertz employees is at the airport and maybe an HLE location and used car sales. They sold the RAC location to Costco a few years back. I don't think it will be too long until they will be completely in Estero. Teo9969 12-17-2023, 09:11 AM How many jobs at their peak were in OKC? What's the current pay for entry level EEs and what's the pay scale for their first level managers? Bellaboo 12-17-2023, 07:17 PM How many jobs at their peak were in OKC? What's the current pay for entry level EEs and what's the pay scale for their first level managers? In 1985, the Data Center on NWX, had approximately 1,400 ( with about 250 IBM mainframe and system programmers). It also had about 40 programmers at the Indy Center ( on Independence Street over by Baptist (these were moved to the Data Center in 1987) and I'm not sure about the personnel count at the Reservation Center on North Penn. But I'm sure in the hundreds. The Data Center was Hertz Corporation Rent - A - Car HQ. At this time the Hertz HQ was at 660 Madison Ave in NYC. jn1780 12-18-2023, 08:20 AM In 1985, the Data Center on NWX, had approximately 1,400 ( with about 250 IBM mainframe and system programmers). It also had about 40 programmers at the Indy Center ( on Independence Street over by Baptist (these were moved to the Data Center in 1987) and I'm not sure about the personnel count at the Reservation Center on North Penn. But I'm sure in the hundreds. The Data Center was Hertz Corporation Rent - A - Car HQ. At this time the Hertz HQ was at 660 Madison Ave in NYC. Wasn't North Penn more of the 'data center'? I know Loves had cold feet for years about buying it because it required a huge investment to turn it from a concrete bunker to an everyday office building. Bill Robertson 12-18-2023, 10:04 AM Wasn't North Penn more of the 'data center'? I know Loves had cold feet for years about buying it because it required a huge investment to turn it from a concrete bunker to an everyday office building.My current wife and an ex-wife (pure coincidence) both worked at Hertz for a combined 50+ years. NW Exp was the Data Center. Penn was the Call Center. First wife was in DRB (Daily Reports Bureau) at NW Exp for her entire 30ish years. My current wife was in Vehicle Recovery at NW Exp then the department moved to the Chase bank building at 63rd and NWExp, then to Quail before she left at 22 years. Bellaboo 12-18-2023, 10:27 AM I was in IT (IBM Mainframe) for 23 years. My wife worked there for 43 years, 3 months and 10 days. And she retired a couple years ago at 63 yrs old. North Penn was the Reservation center, but with the internet and online self booking, that dried up and about half a floor was relocated to the Data Center. I seriously doubt Hertz will have much of a presence in a couple years. Fun Fact - The Reservation center was relocated around 1970 to OKC due to Regulations that resulted in 'phone charges by the mile'. That's why a lot of res centers are in the central states, like American Airlines in Tulsa, Hertz in OKC, also a hotel chain had one in OKC at one time. Dob Hooligan 12-18-2023, 11:09 AM Wasn't North Penn more of the 'data center'? I know Loves had cold feet for years about buying it because it required a huge investment to turn it from a concrete bunker to an everyday office building. Funny, I heard that Hertz was the delay in changing hands. Something about the building was loaded with old technology and personal client info that would have an enormous cost to remove it safely and legally. Seems Love's bought the building with a 3, or 5 year leaseback to Hertz. And the leaseback had an incredible escalator on rent the last 2 years as motivation to Hertz to clear out. Something like $1 million the first year, $6 million in year 4 and $12 million in year 5. Those $ numbers are all made up, and just being used as an example. TheTravellers 12-18-2023, 11:34 AM I worked for CDI (who worked for IBM, who worked for Hertz as a result of Hertz outsourcing their IT). Started in 2009, left in 2013, and the data center on NW Expwy was the main data center, had tons of HP equipment in it, some very very old. The res center on Penn was their call center and disaster recovery (or business continuity, as it's called now) site and could theoretically take over all processing if the data center was destroyed. Never tested it while I was there, although a few applications did run from the res center once in a while. All of Hertz was using older hardware, easily 5-10 years past their prime. No idea what it's like now, though, but I suspect it's still not all current tech (I believe their main reservation code was (and may still be) written in COBOL). Bellaboo 08-28-2024, 08:28 PM The building sold a month or so ago. The remaining employees are relocating to the old Lucent building down by the Outlet Mall. Pete 08-28-2024, 08:58 PM The building sold a month or so ago. The remaining employees are relocating to the old Lucent building down by the Outlet Mall. The County Assessor site shows Hertz still owns it. Do you have any more details? TheTravellers 08-29-2024, 09:55 AM The building sold a month or so ago. The remaining employees are relocating to the old Lucent building down by the Outlet Mall. Is the data center still in that building, or is it at Hefner/Penn or is it somewhere else (Florida, where I believe their HQ is now)? Bellaboo 08-29-2024, 02:53 PM Is the data center still in that building, or is it at Hefner/Penn or is it somewhere else (Florida, where I believe their HQ is now)? The hardware (IBM) was in Lexington Ky back in 2009. Not sure where the IT people are anymore. Bill Robertson 08-29-2024, 03:07 PM The hardware (IBM) was in Lexington Ky back in 2009. Not sure where the IT people are anymore. I'm pretty sure there are a few IT people on NW Exp. A very good friend of ours worked IT for Hertz, got outsourced to IBM but still for Hertz, and for a few years now works for another contractor working for Hertz. Hertz tried a couple of years ago to hire her back as a corporate employee. They did hire a few people she used to work with back. I think she said they're on NW Exp. Bellaboo 08-29-2024, 03:11 PM I'm pretty sure there are a few IT people on NW Exp. A very good friend of ours worked IT for Hertz, got outsourced to IBM but still for Hertz, and for a few years now works for another contractor working for Hertz. Hertz tried a couple of years ago to hire her back as a corporate employee. They did hire a few people she used to work with back. I think she said they're on NW Exp. Northwest Expressway is the only Corporate location in OKC. Other than a rental lot here and there. Bill Robertson 08-29-2024, 06:50 PM Northwest Expressway is the only Corporate location in OKC. Other than a rental lot here and there. That's what I thought but I try not to post definite things unless I'm absolutely sure. TheTravellers 08-29-2024, 07:29 PM The hardware (IBM) was in Lexington Ky back in 2009. Not sure where the IT people are anymore. There was also tons of it in the NW Expwy bldg in 2009, that's when I started, read upthread - that was the main data center and Penn/Hefner was the DR center, for at least 4 years until I left in 2013. Dozens, if not a hundred or so IT folks in both centers in OKC as of 2009-13. Bellaboo 08-30-2024, 08:32 AM There was also tons of it in the NW Expwy bldg in 2009, that's when I started, read upthread - that was the main data center and Penn/Hefner was the DR center, for at least 4 years until I left in 2013. Dozens, if not a hundred or so IT folks in both centers in OKC as of 2009-13. I was one of the 240 (strictly mainframe related) that was let go in July of 2009. And yes the hardware stayed at the DC for a few year, but the systems support staff went directly to Lexington, and the software maintenance went to India. It wasn't too long after though that some of the software support came back. They did me a favor. I started at Hertz in 1985. Bill Robertson 08-30-2024, 07:41 PM Sitting here at dinner with our friend that worked IT there and still has former colleagues still there. Word there is that Dove Academy has finalized purchase of the Data Center building. gjl 08-30-2024, 09:57 PM Sitting here at dinner with our friend that worked IT there and still has former colleagues still there. Word there is that Dove Academy has finalized purchase of the Data Center building. I thought I had heard that at a Warr Acres city council meeting. Pete 12-23-2024, 04:32 PM Sitting here at dinner with our friend that worked IT there and still has former colleagues still there. Word there is that Dove Academy has finalized purchase of the Data Center building. Someone just asked me about this building and I checked the County Assessor site and all that property is still owned by Hertz. Found this article from 4/20/24: Hertz data center in Oklahoma up for sale 20,000 sq ft facility offers 5.5MW A data center and call center owned by car rental company Hertz is up for sale in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Fleske Commercial Group is offering 5601 Northwest Expressway for sale; the listed price is $16.9 million. Built in 1979 and spanning 200,260 sq ft (18,605 sqm), the site is being offered as a “potential commercial redevelopment opportunity or as an office space asset.” The 21-acre site features a 187,660 sq ft (17,435 sqm) call & data center building – the data center totals 20,000 sq ft (1,860 sqm) – a 12,000 sq ft (1,115 sqm) office warehouse/printing facility, and a 600 sq ft (55 sqm) warehouse facility. Featuring redundant dual power feeds, the site has five backup generators totaling 5.5MW. CRAC units have been maintained and updated, while HVAC, chillers, and all air handlers on the roof have reportedly had various upgrades as needed. Hertz Corporation is open to leasing 20,000- 30,000 sq ft of the property on a long-term basis. “Hertz is proud to be a major employer in Oklahoma City for over five decades and we remain committed to our operations there," a Hertz spokesman told The Oklahoman last month. "We can confirm our building at 5601 Northwest Expressway is for sale and we are transitioning to a lease agreement.” Car rental firm Hertz has reportedly had a presence in Oklahoma City for nearly 50 years and had previously been one of the city’s largest employers. The 5601 NW Expressway site has hosted Hertz’s data center since at least the late 1990s. Hertz previously sold its four-story, 225,000-square-foot office building at 14501 Hertz Quail Springs Parkway in Oklahoma City to Costco in May 2020, the day before Hertz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy early during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022 Hertz announced it had chosen AWS as a cloud provider and would transition core infrastructure components from on-premises data centers to Amazon's cloud platform. Bellaboo 12-24-2024, 10:05 AM The 5601 NW Expressway site has hosted Hertz’s data center since at least the late 1990s. It was much earlier than this. I started in the summer of 1985, and there was over 200 programers at that time. In 1987 the Reservations systems and programers were moved to this location from a building over by Baptist hospital. During the late 70's early 80's most systems from New York relocated to 5601. Pete 12-24-2024, 10:25 AM ^ The County Assessor site shows the first building was constructed in 1979 and the second in 1983. I seem to recall the reservation center was first to open, then the data center. Looking through newspaper archives, it looks like they started with a smaller res center in Lincoln Plaza around 1970. Bill Robertson 12-24-2024, 11:17 AM My wife checked with the contacts she still has there. The grapevine still has it that Dove is buying the property. But it wouldn't be the first time that the grapevine has been wrong. So maybe, maybe not. Pete 12-24-2024, 12:43 PM ^ There is such massive data center infrastructure, I'm sure Hertz wanted someone to pay for that, hence the $16.9 million price tag. I suspect Dove (if true) will rent part of the space from Hertz while they continue seeking a buyer to pay the freight. Bill Robertson 12-24-2024, 12:59 PM ^ There is such massive data center infrastructure, I'm sure Hertz wanted someone to pay for that, hence the $16.9 million price tag. I suspect Dove (if true) will rent part of the space from Hertz while they continue seeking a buyer to pay the freight.That makes sense. I wondered from the first I heard of the supposed deal how Dove was planning on footing the bill for that much building and infrastructure. gjl 12-24-2024, 01:09 PM I know a few years ago Warr Acres was needing to dig a hole close to the entrance to the Hertz on NW Highway. They were told that there were some very important underground data cables close to where they needed to dig and it was critical that those cables not be damaged. Pete 01-08-2025, 11:20 AM Dove Charter Schools has plans to occupy the old Hertz complex at 5601 NW Expressway in Warr Acres. HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dove010825a.jpg Hertz was once one of the largest employers in Oklahoma City, employing close to 1,400 at its peak. In 2020, the company sold its 225,000-square-foot office building near Quali Springs Mall to Costco. The company was hit hard by the pandemic, has been downsizing and restructuring, and was briefly bankrupt. When it listed the NW Expressway property for sale a year ago, the company stated it hoped to lease back some of the space for approximately 200 remaining employees. The complex has massive existing infrastructure for what once had been a large data center. There are two existing 2-story buildings consisting of 185,000 square feet, and a smaller storage warehouse on 18.5 acres. Dove’s plans show a new gymnasium and outdoor sports courts. Also a sports field and track, with the northern building hosting a middle school, and the southern a high school. Dove already operates an elementary school in a former shopping center directly to the east. HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dove010825b.jpg HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dove010825c.jpg HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dove010825f.jpg HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/dove010825e.jpg jn1780 01-08-2025, 11:42 AM It will be good to see the yellow replaced with blue and red. lol Bellaboo 01-08-2025, 12:15 PM That first picture looks like the world's biggest Waffle House. lol The building on the North side of the Link, also has a full basement. It housed the majority of the IT staff until 1987 when we moved to the first floor. It is where all of the hardware, processors, print room and data banks were located. It was massive during this time. It stayed this way until around 2008 or 2009. White Line Nightmare 01-13-2025, 01:27 PM They should have left it the original brown and concrete. Can you imagine going to Sherman Williams and asking for 10,000 gallons of yellow. Patrick 01-14-2025, 01:32 PM Am I the only one that thinks this is a complete waste of prime commercial space? Being that it fronts NW Expressway there's so much more opportunity for business or retail/restaurant space. OkieBerto 01-14-2025, 02:15 PM Am I the only one that thinks this is a complete waste of prime commercial space? Being that it fronts NW Expressway there's so much more opportunity for business or retail/restaurant space. There is commercial space everywhere and yet Golden Corral remains vacant, they tore down a building that use to be a grocery store just a block down. This area has lost commercial space slowly over the last 10 years. jn1780 01-14-2025, 02:33 PM Am I the only one that thinks this is a complete waste of prime commercial space? Being that it fronts NW Expressway there's so much more opportunity for business or retail/restaurant space. Being in the middle of NW expressway really puts a dent on the area's protentional. You have two shopping hubs to the west and east. Not a whole lot of motivation for people out west to travel east or people out east to travel west. gjl 01-14-2025, 08:01 PM Warr Acres sure wishes it could get some sales tax revenue from that area. If you think back they lost a Walmart and a grocery store just to the west of Hertz. |