Friday, Aug. 29, 2008

Wal-Mart files plans to expand

Chain seeking a supercenter in Los Banos after store exceeds expectations

One of Los Banos' big-box stores has filed papers with the city stating its desire to expand.

Wal-Mart, located on the 1500 block of Pacheco Boulevard, is planning to turn its facility into a supercenter within the next few years.

Wal-Mart officials submitted a site plan to the city on Aug. 19. Los Banos officials are now working with the chain store to find an environmental impact report consultant.

Aaron Rios, a Wal-Mart spokesman, said the company's Los Banos store has done surprisingly well.

"That store is one that is exceeding our expectations," he said.

Rios said becoming a supercenter means Wal-Mart will make fresh food items available for its customers. A deli, bakery and fresh meat products section will be added to the store.

According to Wal-Mart's Web site its average supercenter is 65,000 square feet larger than its discount stores.

Because Wal-Mart will need to add on to its existing building it may take two years or more before the supercenter is operating in Los Banos.

"Before we can get real far with it we have to do a full-blown EIR; it has to go to the Planning Commission and the City Council," Planning Director Paula Fitzgerald said.

Rios said he does not know how long the city's approval process will take, but Wal-Mart could complete its construction of the supercenter facilities within 18 months.

In the past few years Los Banos has seen a handful of chain retail businesses come into the city. Most recently Target opened one block away from Wal-Mart.

Rios insisted that the move to create a supercenter is not a reaction to increased competition.

Rios said Wal-Mart's customers are looking for value as well as convenience and having a supercenter gives them both.

As of April Wal-Mart had 33 supercenters in California. The company paid more than $147.4 million in state and local taxes in California in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

Enterprise staff writer Corey Pride can be reached at 388-6563 or cpride@losbanosenterprise.com