Fanatics LLC, the sports merchandising giant founded in the Jacksonville area, is closing its fulfillment center at 5245 Commonwealth Ave., affecting 218 employees.

“Fanatics continues to maintain a strong presence in Jacksonville, employing more than 1,500 employees at its corporate offices,” the company said in a letter filed Thursday under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. “In addition, we continue to operate the in-venue retail business for the Jacksonville Jaguars,”

Fanatics said in the WARN letter sent to Mayor Donna Deegan, City Council President Ronald Salem and the State Trade and Rapid Response Program that the layoffs will begin April 1.