Walmart Plans New Neighborhood Market At Springdale's Don Tyson Interchange

SPRINGDALE -- Walmart announced plans Thursday to open a Neighborhood Market on Don Tyson Parkway near Interstate 49 in Springdale.

The 41,000-square-foot store is expected to create 95 jobs and open in the fall of 2015, according to a news release.

The announcement comes just a couple of weeks before the nearby interchange is expected to open the week of July 7. The Neighborhood Market is one of several new establishments in the area.

"That's a significant development that we are very excited to hear about, and we believe it'll be the first of many that will be announced over the coming months and years," said Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse.

Bill Rogers, vice president of communications and special projects for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, voiced similar optimism.

"We believe that this is the start of the first of a number of announcements on the west side of town that are going to be positive for Springdale," Rogers said.

Rogers said there were other developments, such as NorthWest Arkansas Community College's plans to buy land west of the Arvest Ballpark, that would also increase the number of potential consumers in that area.

There are several other Walmart stores opening across Northwest Arkansas in the near future. A supercenter on Elm Springs Road in Springdale will open in mid-August, and a Neighborhood Market in Pea Ridge will open by the end of July, said Erica Jones, Walmart spokeswoman.

Other upcoming Walmart locations around Northwest Arkansas include a supercenter in Centerton and Neighborhood Markets in downtown Bentonville and Rogers, Farmington and Siloam Springs, Jones said.

The new Springdale market will use environmentally-friendly technology such as LED lighting and "one of the industry's most efficient" heat and air system to reduce its energy and water consumption and minimize waste, according to the company.

Walmart announced in February plans to build 270 to 300 small-format stores this year. Small-format stores include Neighborhood Markets, Walmart Express, Walmart on Campus, and Walmart To Go.

Walmart Express stores average 15,000 square feet and carry grocery and a selection of general merchandise. The retailer operates three 3,500 square-foot Walmart on Campus stores -- on campuses of the University of Arkansas, Georgia Tech University and Arizona State University. Walmart Express stores are generally about 12,000 square feet.

Walmart opened its first convenience store, Walmart To Go, on March 9 in Bentonville. It's 5,200 square feet, has eight fuel pumps, and stocks convenience store staples such as snacks, beverages and bread.

The company is also building a pilot grocery pickup site in Bentonville. It will be a 15,000 square-foot drive-up store that will stock fresh and dry-good grocery items.

The retailer reported it had 359 Neighborhood Markets and 62 other small-format stores nationwide at the end of the first quarter, which ended April 30.