This location doesn't even offer an expanded grocery department. In today's retail scene, Walmart stores of this size added an expanded grocery selection as part of remodels- even if the store had an existing grocery store in the same center. This location maintains the same amount of grocery selection it did when it opened. For comparison, it is on par with what you could find at Kmart.
With Tops having operated a supermarket in the same center up to 2012, it would be reasonable to expect that expanding the square footage of the store was likely a no-no due to lease stipulations. As a result, it appears that at one time there were plans to relocate to brand new supercenter down the road near an existing Kohl's. However, those plans hit a snag when the area was declared to be wetlands. This prevented Walmart from relocating, and best guess is that the company doesn't really want to put a whole lot of money into this location as a result. It also wouldn't surprise me to hear if this location also has issues with theft, as the center it is located in has seen better days and some products have been put behind glass cases.
As for what the future holds for this location, it remains to be seen. Perhaps it may look to relocate one day, but based off my visit last month, it seemed that some minor changes have occurred in the form of a new paint job. At the very least, they should improve the grocery offerings.
Always fun to see this store!
ReplyDeleteIt is quite something to see nowadays.
DeleteI've noticed a handful of Walmart Supercenters have been remodeled up to the new decor...
ReplyDeleteTHAT is the exact reason I insisted someone revisit this Wal-Mart. With other stores around it getting hacked up from Black 2.0 and newer remodels, I worry this store can no longer delay the inevitable.
DeleteYeah, they are pushing the airport look out quite a bit since it is the newest format for them.
DeleteLooking at some pictures on Yelp, that empty space next to the entry doors last housed two restaurants - Jreck Subs and Krispy Krunchy Chicken.
ReplyDeleteAlso looking through Yelp, I saw a picture allegedly from September 2012 showing a late-model Unarco M95 shopping cart full of boxes and the shoe section in the background bearing carpet, which leaves three possibilities:
1. The picture is not of this store.
2. The picture is a few years older, possibly before the Impact update was completed.
3. The fake wood flooring in apparel was an afterthought. Having the ends angled like they are doesn't help in discounting this theory.
Anyway, I'm glad to have introduced you to this freakshow of a store. Definitely a store I would recommend to the rest of the retail community before Walmart changes their minds and wrecks this store.
Yes, thanks for the tip.
DeleteSeems like restaurants just couldn't make a go of it here.
I shouldn't be surprised they'd find a way to cheapen the wood floor. lol
This reminds me somewhat of the one in Grove City(which by the way is probably less the 80,000 sq ft,and is not the Supercenters format.
ReplyDeleteGrove City PA
ReplyDeleteGrove City is indeed on the smaller side, but it has been updated.
DeleteThis place really is a walk back in time - those red check lane lights really solidify that thought for me, as I haven't seen those in person in probably a decade. I'm surprised this store hasn't expanded into a Supercenter, especially with Tops being gone, and there being a small grassy space to the side of this building that looks like it was intended to accommodate such an expansion. I wonder if Walmart will eventually remodel this store, or if corporate is still trying to come up with a relocation/expansion plan of some kind.
ReplyDeleteIt seems Walmart is content with having a few non-super stores. I know Walmart in Warsaw, NY literally had all the permits it needed to expand and become a supercenter, but they decided at the last minute to cancel those plans.The store remodeled and rearranged things to accommodate for a larger grocery area.
DeleteI remember some years Walmart drew up plans for a Supercenter a few miles from the Grove City store,near the Prime Outlets...I don't know if wetlands or the outlets had anything to do with the new store not be even in planning anymore..
DeleteAnd they only updated the front end in 2019 - the way they did it looks jarring when you realize that most Supercenters lack the belted self-checkouts. And for electronics, in the off-chance they give in and remodel, it would probably be better for them to retain the center layout here considering remodeling stores are now closing off the ends of the department. It appears they did that with a similar store in Naples, Florida.
DeleteDidn't realize that Grove City intended to relocate at one point.
DeleteKind of funny that Walmart is once again enclosing electronics.
Years back,there was a proposal to relocate the Grove City store to near the Prime Outlets near I 79...I'm thinking either the outlets tried to stop it or everyone was raising fits over the amount the traffic there would increase
ReplyDeleteThat would make sense
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