Friday, Aug. 06, 2010

Wal-Mart Supercenter goes forward

Retailer launches Web site dedicated to store's progress

Plans are progressing to expand the local Wal-Mart to a supercenter.

Planning Director Paula Fitzgerald said city staff has received the administrative draft of the store's environmental impact report.

"Many departments get a look at this," Fitzgerald said. "When it's all said and done, it becomes the city's document so we want it to be really good."

Fitzgerald said she expects construction on the addition to the existing store to begin in 2011. She said the Arkansas-based retail giant will likely open its supercenter in 2012.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amelia Neufeld said the business will have a larger grocery section, add a full-service deli and bakery, and make its electronics department more interactive.

The Wal-Mart Supercenter will be 67,200 square feet larger than the current store.

Neufeld said Los Banos' Wal-Mart is due for an upgrade.

"The original store was built in the 1990s. The store is in need of a renovation and remodel," she said.

Last week, Wal-Mart launched a Web site, www.losbanoswalmartcan.com, for residents to follow the store's expansion plans and provide support for the project. The site features the project's site plans, a list of the services that will be available at the supercenter, links to newspaper articles and ways residents can show support for Wal-Mart's expansion plans.

Wal-Mart announced plans to bring a supercenter to town in 2008. Last year the company spent months gauging public interest in the project. Its Web site for the Los Banos store boasts of having more than 5,000 area residents supporting plans for a supercenter.

Fitzgerald said the reason Wal-Mart wants community support may be to guard against groups in California that routinely file lawsuits against Wal-Mart whenever the retailer builds a store in the state.

"Wal-Marts always get brought into litigation," Fitzgerald said.

Neufeld downplayed the lawsuit aspect. She said providing extra services at the city's Wal-Mart is based on comments provided to the company by Los Banos residents and their support for the project.

"It's really a matter of what our local customers are telling us their needs are," Neufeld said.

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