Walmart Neighborhood Market Plans Downtown Rogers Store
STAFF PHOTO FLIP PUTTHOFF A motel and restaurant are two of the buildings that will be torn down if the city approves plans for a Walmart Neighborhood Market at Eighth and Walnut streets in Rogers.
Monday, April 7, 2014
ROGERS — A Walmart Neighborhood Market planned at the Eighth and Walnut street intersection could play a part in the revitalization of downtown, some business owners and economic development professionals said.
A request for a conditional use permit to operate a fueling station at the location is scheduled for discussion at the April 15 Planning Commission meeting. The large-scale development plan is slated for review May 6, planning officials said.
At A Glance
Development Plan
The preliminary large-scale development plan has the Neighborhood Market sitting on 6.07 acres with the store on the south side of the property facing Walnut Street, with a large parking lot in front of the 41,117-square-foot store.
• The motel on Eighth Street and the building housing Marion’s Donut shop will be razed to make way for the store.
• The AT&T building and Smokin’ Joe’s Ribhouse on Poplar Street will remain.
• There are about 306 parking spaces for the proposed store on the north, east and west sides of the building.
• The fueling station is situated on the north side of the site near Walnut Street.
Source: Staff Report
Walmart officials said the site was selected, in part, because that area of the city is underserved in regard to a grocery store.
"We are always looking for ways to provide convenience and quality to our customers," said Erica Jones, senior manager for Walmart communications.
"This location fits our needs and should become an asset for the area. We will be able to provide fresh fruits and vegetables along with other grocery items and gasoline in a convenient location that can serve a wide area," she added.
"We are excited about Walmart locating a Neighborhood Market downtown," Mayor Greg Hines said Friday.
Walmart officials were diligent over the past few weeks to make the store a reality, Hines said.
"I welcome this addition to our downtown and believe it will have the ability to enhance our goal of attracting more people to live downtown. Additionally, I think it will further our ability to attract more businesses to the area," Hines said.
Cory Beldyga, owner of the Sears store at the northwest corner of Walnut and Eighth streets, said he's all for Walmart opening a Neighborhood Market across the street from his business.
"Walmart attracts a lot of people. With them being right across the street it could increase traffic in my store as well. Besides, I think it's good for downtown," Beldyga said. "I'm ready for Walmart to build the store."
Robert Ayers, manager of Autozone, 119 W. Eighth St., doesn't mind the Neighborhood Market, but he is concerned about the traffic it could create.
"Eighth and Walnut street is a busy intersection already. Depending on where the entrance and exits for the Neighborhood Market are, it could create traffic turmoil," Ayers said.
The large-scale development plan shows two Neighborhood Market exits on Eighth Street, one in the middle of the block between Walnut and Poplar streets and the other near the AT&T store at the corner of Eighth and Poplar streets. There also is an exit on Walnut Street and an exit or entrance west of Smokin' Joe's restaurant on Poplar Street.
Gateway Planning was hired by city officials to devise a plan to revitalize the downtown area. The scope of work for the project includes expanding what is considered the downtown area, rezoning of property to create more living space, improve walkability, attract new businesses and increase the night life, according to city documents. One important piece of the revitalization of the area includes having a grocery store within walking or bike riding distance for people living downtown.
Scott Polikov, president of Gateway Planning, said he was unaware Walmart was considering a Neighborhood Market at the intersection.
"Since I haven't seen the plans for the development it's hard for me to comment, Polikov said.
"I will say that having a well-known grocery store downtown is likely to have a positive impact on additional development," he added.
Economic development experts agree a grocery store is an important part of attracting people to live downtown.
"It's imperative to have a grocery store within walking or biking range of people living downtown. It's a chicken and egg thing. You need a dense population to make a grocery store viable and vice versa," said Kathy Deck, director of of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.
"A Neighborhood Market doesn't have to be an anchor in a strip mall to attract other businesses to the area," Deck added.
"Other businesses will relocate to the area because of the same factors that attracted Walmart, a customer base, high traffic volume and convenience," she added.
NW News on 04/07/2014