Thread: Walmart to double stores in Dallas, $200 MILLION

Walmart to double stores in Dallas, build three stores in southern Dallas

ByRudolph Bush / Reporter
rbush@dallasnews.com | Bio
1:49 PM on Tue., Feb. 22, 2011 | Permalink

This just in from City Hall.

Walmart plans to double its stores in Dallas and build three stores in Southern Dallas, with a plan to put in one major store and two neighborhood markets in part of the city that lacks good access to groceries and particularly fresh meat and produce.

The large store is planned for I-35 at Ledbetter, a city official said.

Two smaller neighborhood market stores will be built in Oak Cliff at Fort Worth Avenue and Hampton and in Pleasant Grove at South Buckner and Scyene roads.

Most of southern Dallas recently opened up to the sale of beer and wine after voters overwhelmingly supported an effort to eliminate dry lines in the city.

The inability to sell alcohol has long been cited by grocers as an impediment to opening stores south of the Trinity River.

"Clearly, Walmart understands the strong economic fundamentals of our city's economy and sees tremendous potential," Leppert said in a prepared statement. "And all indications are, if these stores do well, especially in Southern Dallas, more stores will come."

Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway, whose district will include two of the new stores, said he was overjoyed at the news.

Caraway opposed the alcohol referendum but has long spoken out about the lack of access to quality grocery and retail in southern Dallas.

He praised Leppert for working with Walmart.

"It could not have been accomplished without the support he has given this issue, and it shows that by working together, as we did work together, on cleaning up the community, the neighborhood wins," he said.

http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/arch ... tores.html

Walmart, Kroger expanding in Dallas' southern sector
by REBECCA LOPEZ
WFAA
Posted on February 22, 2011 at 7:22 PM
Updated today at 7:31 PM

DALLAS — Walmart says it is bringing more than a thousand new jobs to North Texas.

The retailer is investing $200 million to build a dozen new stores, doubling its presence in Dallas.

Three of those stores and hundreds of those jobs will be located in the southern sector of Dallas.

Walmart plans to open stores off Interstate 35 and Ledbetter Drive; in Pleasant Grove; and off North Hampton Road and Fort Worth Avenue in Oak Cliff.

But those aren't the only changes coming to an area in the midst of a revitaliziation.

Kroger said it will spend $2 million to renovate one of its existing stores in Wynnewood Village near the site of an announced Walmart store.

"This all has a very positive effect for the surrounding area," said Dallas City Council member Dave Neumann.

A new law permitting beer and wine sales in formerly "dry" areas of Dallas may be encouraging the building blitz.

Shoppers told News 8 they are looking forward to the new and improved choices.

E-mail rlopez@wfaa.com

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/walmart-116702309.html