Walmart Eyes Former Publix On Ringling In Sarasota (Tamiami: neighborhood, living)

[wondermint2]

I think this is good for the area - as Publix sells some nice items - but overall I find them to be kind of on the expensive side. Competition is always a good thing - plus this will add a lot of convenience for people living near downtown that like shopping at Walmart Supercenters.

Walmart wants to build Supercenter at Ringling Shopping Center in Sarasota | HeraldTribune.com (click for full article)

"SARASOTA - A 98,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter may replace the largely vacant Ringling Shopping Center, where Publix exited in November after five decades.

In preliminary plans filed with the city, Walmart said it would demolish the empty supermarket and the rest of the 97,779-square-foot center — which contains an Ace Hardware and LTM Party Supply — to make way for its building.

If Walmart receives its required approvals, it will take about a year to open its planned store, which would employ about 250 mostly full-time workers.

"This is what we would call a small Supercenter," said Bill Wertz, a spokesman for the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer.

"That entails a full grocery with deli, fresh meat and produce, plus a general merchandise section," he added.

Walmart is also building a Walmart Neighborhood Market on North Tamiami Trail, supplanting a shuttered Winn-Dixie supermarket. That store is expected to open in October."

[macyny]

Sarasota needs some other Supermarkets. Publix seems to be a monopoly here. I don't know how Walmart is, but at least it will offer some choices. Moving from NY, I am surprised how expensive food is in Publix compared to shopping in NY where there are so many different Supermarkets.