Is There a Walmart in Your Future ?
Walmart has opened its supercenters in many if not most urban and rural communities. Where do they go next ? With the over abundance of strip store space just about everywhere Walmart has many options. Walmart is embracing the concept of 'in-flll" with three concept store formats with which they are experimenting:
- Walmart Express: 15,000 square foot small store concept with a variety of product assortment;
- Walmart Market: 25,000-70,000 square foot grocery and home goods focused stores;
- Walmart on Campus: 3,300 square foot stores with product assortments geared to the needs of students (cross between a Walgreen's and a Staple's).
Expect to see Walmart and its competitors rolling out stores as they fine tune these concepts. Will communities embrace these stores or tighten zoning and use rules and regulations ? As we have written in prior posts, retail is going to re-tool and re-define itself; developers and lenders take note.
