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Town official: Wal-Mart says it's still coming
By STEPHANIE A. JAMES/Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 9:13 PM EDT
The Town of Appomattox received confirmation on Monday that Wal-Mart is still coming to Appomattox, squelching rampant rumors that the retail giant was having second thoughts.
Town Manager David Garrett informed the Appomattox Town Council on Monday that he talked to Wal-Mart's Senior Manager of Public Affairs Kelly Hobbs to confirm that Wal-Mart is still on schedule to open in Appomattox.
Garrett said that Hobbs informed him that the construction would still go on as planned.
"It is still on target and still on board. There is no indication at all about not doing the project," said Garrett.
Garrett said that some citizens were calling the town office about their concerns of whether Wal-Mart is still coming to Appomattox.
Concern was raised two weeks ago after news broke that Wal-Mart was backing out of their commitment to open a store in Pittsylvania County.
Also, the Times-Virginian was receiving phone calls from citizens who were wondering why no construction was taking place or no land transaction has been made.
Apparently, though, Wal-Mart still plans to build a Supercenter on the vacant lot beside the Shoppes of Appomattox.
Wal-Mart officials last March announced that they were locating a store in Appomattox.
The Wal-Mart Supercenter will be constructed on outparcels of a 27-acre tract located between the Shoppes of Appomattox and the U.S. 460 West entry ramp. Four of those acres would be set aside for other potential businesses.
When news was broke of Wal-Mart's opening, citizens were invited to attend informational meetings.
Hobbs assured the citizens at informational meetings last year that the Wal-Mart would not affect the historical feel of the Appomattox.
The Supercenter will be a 99,000 square-foot facility.
Wal-Mart officials said that the feedback has been positive.
Along with working with the community, the engineers considered traffic in the site plan.
When the site plan was done, the Virginia Department of Transportation approved the traffic study that was conducted.
There is a proposed traffic signal that would prevent traffic congestion.
The signal would be located on the eastbound ramp of 460.
The parking lot will have 500 parking spaces.
Another feature of the new Wal-Mart will be skylights that will reduce energy costs.
Wal-Mart will be constructed on land owned by Courtland Realty.
Fifty percent of the landscape will be green or open space when the new Wal-Mart is built.
Currently there is no date set for a ground-breaking.
The Supercenter will feature electronics, grocery department, clothing, garden center, pharmacy, health and beauty aids.
The grocery department will feature a bakery, delicatessen, frozen food department, fresh produce section, meat and diary department.
The new Wal-Mart is targeted to create approximately 200 jobs to Appomattox.
The average full-time Wal-Mart associate earns $10.28 per hour retail store and offers healthcare benefits package.
According to an independent certified study, Wal-Mart saves the average American household more than $2,300 per year.
The store will only have one entrance, and that will be on State Route 26 (Oakville Road), but there will be a connection road from The Shoppes of Appomattox.
The building will have a brick front and will cost between $11-and-12 million to construct.
She added that the company offers health insurance benefits for full and part-time employees, as well as 401K, profit sharing and annual bonuses.
As of January 2007, Wal-Mart boasted 68 Supercenters and 19 discount stores in Virginia, as well as 13 Sam's Clubs and four distribution centers.
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Christopher Cunningham wrote on Apr 22, 2008 10:33 PM:
How about a unique quaint town rooted in its past and growing for its future? "