[billiefan2000]

Walmart plans grocery-only store
By Cindy Gonzalez
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
« Metro/RegionShare Advertisement
Walmart plans to build a stand-alone grocery store in northwest Omaha — the company's first such store in Nebraska.

The 34,000-square-foot neighborhood market will be in the 90th and Lake Streets area, said Ryan Irsik, a company spokesman. That's about one-sixth the size of the Walmart Supercenter at 168th Street and West Maple Road.

"It is basically a small little Walmart market," Irsik said.

Omaha Planning Director Rick Cunningham said he understands that the Arkansas-based Walmart plans other grocery stores in the city, although Irsik declined to confirm that.

Walmart last week opened the first of five market stores opening by Nov. 2 in Wichita, Kan. It was the retail giant's first venture into that city with the smaller market stores, though it has been building them since 1998.

Last year, Walmart said it planned to build a variety of different store formats in addition to its supercenters, including medium-format stores of 30,000 to 60,000 square feet, and urban, convenience-type stores known as Walmart Express.

The "three-format portfolio will drive expansion to urban markets and small towns, as well as fill in gaps in existing markets," Bill Simon, president of Walmart's U.S. division, said in a report on the company capital expenditure plans.

Earlier this year, the nation's largest grocer said it would reformulate thousands of products to make them healthier and push its suppliers to do the same, joining first lady Michelle Obama's effort to combat childhood obesity.

In addition, Walmart executives said it would build up to 300 stores by 2016 in so-called food deserts — pockets where fresh meat and vegetables are hard to get. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines a food desert as a low-income neighborhood where the nearest grocery store is at least a mile away. In a rural area, it's 10 miles.

The 90th and Lake Streets area is not considered a food desert because it has other grocery stores, including a No Frills Supermarket at 8005 Blondo St.

But Cunningham said he sees Walmart's decision to bring the stand-alone market to Omaha as the company is making a push to serve food deserts as a hopeful sign that it will expand into eastern Omaha. He said he welcomed other grocery chains in low-income neighborhoods, too.


more... Walmart plans grocery-only store - Omaha.com

[billiefan2000]

btw: what was the name of the grocery store there

back in the late 80's and 90's cause i remember a grocery store there back in the day at 90th and lake

[Calvinist]

Originally Posted by billiefan2000

btw: what was the name of the grocery store there

back in the late 80's and 90's cause i remember a grocery store there back in the day at 90th and lake

Is that by the old Bakers?

[Busguy2010]

Do they have to tear down the Hobby Lobby for this, I wonder? Or is it supposed to be on the West side between NAPA and Fantasy's?

[harshbarj]

Lets hope they move near or into downtown next. We desperately need a true grocery store in the area (and sorry Patrick's market is NOT a grocery store, it's a large convenience store). Outside of avanza there is nothing even close to the downtown area.

[Busguy2010]

Originally Posted by harshbarj

Lets hope they move near or into downtown next. We desperately need a true grocery store in the area (and sorry Patrick's market is NOT a grocery store, it's a large convenience store). Outside of avanza there is nothing even close to the downtown area.

Yeah, that'd be cool to have maybe a three or four story building with the Walmart on the bottom and appartments or condos on top. Somewhere along the future downtown streetcar loop would be great.

[billiefan2000]

Originally Posted by Busguy2010

Do they have to tear down the Hobby Lobby for this, I wonder? Or is it supposed to be on the West side between NAPA and Fantasy's?

it will be on east side where hobby lobby is.


harsh, I agree. patrick's is small and like louis market in benson (way over-priced).

I like avanza on leavenworth when I am downtown.


I second busguy's idea: maybe a three or four story building with the Walmart on the bottom and appartments or condos on top. Somewhere along the future downtown streetcar loop would be great.


I btw wish benson area had maybe a three or four story building with a store on the bottom and appartments or condos on top.

[herbiehusker10]

They need a new one in West Omaha

[Bigg Mann]

They had these Walmart grocery stores only in Indianapolis,IN when I lived there 4 yrs ago. They were nice in areas that did not have much groceries in area but not big enough for large store.

[RhettB]

Originally Posted by billiefan2000

btw: what was the name of the grocery store there

back in the late 80's and 90's cause i remember a grocery store there back in the day at 90th and lake

Food City I believe, same place that was where Nobbies is now.


BTW, any word on when the WM Market on 131st & Birch (Maple) is set to open? There is some heavy demolition at the site.