Wal-Mart pursuing makeshift supercenters in O.C.

April 10th, 2008, 12:44 pm · 13 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

UPDATE: 7 p.m.: Read my full online OCR report.
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Wal-Mart, which does not operate a supercenter in Orange County, said it plans to expand existing discount stores by as much 50,000-square-feet so it can expand its grocery offerings, a spokesman said Thursday.

The stores would offer the same assortment of groceries as supercenters, including fresh fruits and vegetables, deli meats and fresh bakery items. Wal-Mart stores in Orange County sell frozen foods, beverages and dry goods such as crackers, breads and cereals. Stores do not sell produce, deli meats and fresh bakery items.

The news comes as Wal-Mart reported Thursday a financial boost in monthly sales, in part, due to more consumers turning to its cheap groceries during a tight economy.

It’s unclear which of Orange County’s 11 Wal-Mart stores would expand, said John Mendez, a spokesman for Wal-Mart in Southern California. He said Southern California is a key growth area for the company, which is why the chain is hunting for store locations that can accommodate a grocery expansion.

Wal-Mart is looking to obtain the appropriate city permits to expand stores, where feasible. The average size of discount stores, such as those in Orange County, are about 100,000 square feet. A supercenter is typically 185,000-square-feet.

Last year, Wal-Mart scrapped plans to build its first Orange County supercenter in Garden Grove.

Stay tuned to ocregister.com for more details. UPDATE: 7 p.m.: Read my full online OCR report.

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roX4n3w40a says:

April 10, 2008 at 2:08 pm

Viva Walmart!!!! I hope they add groceries at all locations. Grocery bills are too high and the more competiton the better. Hopefully they will do this at the Laguna Niguel Walmart, they have enough room. I wish it was a supercenter.

Oh and Nancy, I won’t shop at the Walmart groceries unless they make the displays funky and have the employees dressed in tropical outfits. They should also have a rock band playing at all times and have murals of soccer moms in mini vans to honor the local culture. Maybe they shoud just put a Trader Joes inside the Walmart.

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Chris says:

April 10, 2008 at 2:11 pm

You can’t pay me enough to shop at a Walmart.

Cheap made-in-china crud.

Rude careless employees.

Customers so wide they can barely waddle through the racks of rags.

OC Bigot says:

April 10, 2008 at 3:18 pm

I proudly shop at Wal-Mart and hope they add a grocery section to the one near my home. To Chris and the sarcastic bafoon above him, hope you never need to tighten your belt and walk into a Wal-Mart.

GO DUCKS says:

April 10, 2008 at 3:19 pm

I’ve sided with F&E before on their bare-bones approach (I would place TJ’s in the bare-bones category as well), but I don’t see myself shopping for groceries at Wal-Mart. Too difficult to park, too disorganized, slow checkouts. Maybe if I did one big shopping trip every week or two, or had a large family I would put up with it.

Sharon says:

April 10, 2008 at 3:52 pm

I wish Walmart would have done Superstores or ever grocery stores along time ago in Orange Count. Some people can’t affort to shop Albertson’s, Von’s or speciality stores for groceries. This might help keep food prices down. I shop Walmart for just about everything that I can get there and need. People need a place where it doesn’t cost there whole paycheck to buy groceries and still eat healthy.

Nick says:

April 10, 2008 at 3:58 pm

I’m not a fan of Wal-Mart. To me their stores are disorganized, busy, loud, and blindingly bright. I also feel sort of cruddy after I shop there. Last time I was in one was at Christmas time for some lights. The store was all the things I said above and then HOT. I can’t imagine them having groceries in that one. The seem too dirty for a grocery store.

Mike says:

April 10, 2008 at 4:35 pm

OC Bigot, before you call anyone a bafoon read my comment again, I agree with you. I love walmart too. Sorry you misunderstood my comment, it was directed to unrelated postings I made to Nancy Luna. No hard feelings please.

Dina says:

April 10, 2008 at 7:02 pm

Shopping at Walmart is what supports China.

OCfrank says:

April 15, 2008 at 8:41 am

Just like we stopped The Buena Park Walmart from becoming a supercenter….we will protest any such actions they plan to take….stay in non-union Arizona Walmart!

Dan says:

April 15, 2008 at 12:27 pm

LOL@ the Jerry Springer crowd defending their addiction to cheap plastic junk.

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April 18, 2008 at 3:26 pm

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Theresa O. says:

June 18, 2008 at 11:55 am

How can anyone pick on Wal-Mart? They’ve revolutionized the discount store shopping experience. Has anyone been to a K-mart lately. Those stores look like they were transplanted here from a 3rd world county.

Wal-Marts are clean, well organized, and have just about anything and everything you could ever want all under one roof. The only thing they’re missing here in SoCal is a full service grocery section.

If anyone has ever traveled outside of CA, even as close as Arizona you would know how great Wal-Mart Super Centers are. They offer EVERYTHING. General merchandise, groceries, bakery, fast food, a dry cleaner service, in-store bank, even a nail shop. It is truely one stop shopping.

Statistically 1 out of every 100 Americans work at a Wal-Mart. How many other companies can say that? They may not have the highest paying jobs, but not every person in the USA has an MBA, where are less educated people supposed to work and still make a decent living? Plus, Wal-Mart offers medical & dental benefits, 401k’s, stock plans, and the opportunity to promote from within.

Before anyone starts accusing me of working for Wal-Mart. I don’t. I’m actually a massage therapist by trade. I work at a day spa in South Orange County. I’ve been a Wal-Mart fan since they came to California years ago. I cannot understand why there so much opposition to Wal-Mart. Just like I’ll never understand the obstacles Disney had to overcome in order to expand, but that’s a whole other story.

So, before you “throw stones” at Wal-Mart maybe you should do some research about the company and all the good they do.

Liz says:

July 6, 2008 at 4:34 pm

I proudly shop at Wal-Mart. I pray they quickly cut through all the Brookhaven, NY red tape and built a Wal-Mart in Rocky Point, NY. My neighbors and I are on the edge of our seats waiting for the word of when they are going to break ground. We can’t believe anyone would protest revitalization to our community. We invite any and all commerce to our town and it’s about time. Please Wal-Mart; Rocky Point, NY is waiting patiently. Help us! We have absolutely no shopping centers in our vicinity and look forward to their arrival.