Expansion and remodeling work is nearing completion at Coyle Free Library in Chambersburg. Markell DeLoatch, Public Opinion
CHAMBERSBURG -- Walmart has dropped its plans for a second supercenter in the Chambersburg area.
More than 10 years ago developers proposed building a store on 52 acres in Hamilton Township at Lincoln Way West (U.S. 30) and Warm Spring Road (Pa. 995).
Drew Marshall, senior manager with Walmart Real Estate & Portfolio Management, recently informed township officials that the company “is officially withdrawing its land application” for Store No. 4290.
“Please feel free to close your file on this matter, as Walmart will not be pursuing a store at this site,” he wrote to Hamilton Township supervisors.
His three-sentence note written on Oct. 23 did not give a reason, but the corporation based in Bentonville, Arkansas, has been spending much less on new stores.
Walmart has invested to innovate in-store and online offerings, to improve existing stores and to train associates, according to Phillip Keene, director of corporate communications.
"With that in mind, after rigorous review, and consideration of several business factors, we have made the difficult decision not to move forward with building a new Walmart store in Hamilton Township," Keene said. "We remain very grateful for the support and professionalism of local leadership while we worked though the development process. Although we no longer plan to build a new store in Hamilton Township, we are committed to continuing our investment in Pennsylvania."
Walmart submitted a formal plan in 2014 to the township for the site at 1100 Lincoln Way West, but never resolved traffic issues. The supercenter posed potential traffic problems:
- U.S. 30 is a rush-hour bottleneck from Sollenberger Road in Chambersburg west to the proposed Wal-Mart entrance.
- Pa. 995 meets U.S. 30 at a sharp angle at the proposed entrance. Wal-Mart's plan called for moving a branch bank building on the south side of U.S. 30 so the intersection would be at right angles.
Hamilton Township supervisors first got a sketch plan for a giant retail store at the location in 2008, but the project went cold during the recession.
The project was still alive in early 2016 when Walmart announced plans to close 12 supercenters and 102 experimental Walmart Express stores around the country. About 95 percent of the closings were within 10 miles of another Walmart.
The local 158,583 square-foot Walmart would have been 5 miles across town from a smaller Walmart Supercenter at 1730 Lincoln Way East in Guilford Township. It would have been the first major retailer to open west of Chambersburg.
Marshall wrote his letter withdrawing the Walmart plan to “Hellertown Township.” Hamilton Township Secretary Deborah Hollenshead said she confirmed that the name of the township was an error in the letter. The letter correctly identified the location of the proposed Wal-Mart and the address of the Hamilton Township supervisors.
Real estate never changed hands for the project.
Walmart has slowed construction of supercenters -- from 79 in fiscal 2014-15 to just 38 in fiscal 2016-17.
Walmart has been spending more on developing e-commerce and remodeling its existing stores.
“Our objective of prioritizing strong, efficient growth means we will focus on increasing comparable store and club sales and accelerating e-commerce sales growth while slowing the rate of growth of new stores and clubs,” Wal-Mart said in its most recent quarterly financial report. “At times, we make strategic investments which are focused on the long-term growth of the company, which may not benefit comparable sales in the near term.
Walmart has cut spending on new store development by more than half in the first six months of its most recent fiscal year, according to Walmart’s quarterly report. The money instead went to remodeling.
Walmart this year is remodeling 20 locations across Pennsylvania, introducing Online Grocery Pick-Up to new stores in the mid-state, launching its first Pickup Tower in Pennsylvania and opening two new associate training academies, including one in York that trains associates from Franklin County, Keene said.
Jim Hook 717-262-4759
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Walmart pulls plug on second Chambersburg supercenter"
Post a Comment