78,000 sf Walmart coming to SoWal [opening June15]

[Teresa]

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It is not useless to continue to be vocal regarding Wal-Mart. If it encourages or reminds people to shop local, it is always worth the energy. All should continue to be vocal in an attempt to keep more money in the local economy and stave off, as much as possible, losses from local businesses.
Just because Wal-Mart is built doesn't mean I will buy stuff there when I come to the beach. Yes, many will. But hopefully MANY won't! ...


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thanks for the reminder rita!

I am sure I will occasionally shop at our little Walmart I wish we didn't have - because I've lived without one for so long here that I know its possible and even preferrable to live without one. But, I will try my best to keep from getting sucked back in, and to keep supporting our local businesses in every way possible.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I had to go to Bluewater this morning and decided to run over and check out the new Niceville store. Nice store, different setup with pharmacy in the middle, but man, trying to get in and out was a little disorienting. They have a few roundabouts going into and out of the the parking lot. I think they may be having a few fender benders in their future. I have a very good sense of direction and I really had to scope it out in order to not get all turned around. I thought for a minute what a great Twilight Zone that would make. Shoppers check in, but they can't check out. They just keep circling the store...

 

[beachmouse]

The fender benders and worse are already happening at that new light. Annoying thing is that Ruckel has also begun to develop a 1,000+ unit housing development on the road that lets me avoid that stretch of Hwy 20. It's a conspiracy to force us onto the planned toll road, I tell ya.

 

[scooterbug44]

I know there was a massive traffic jam the day they opened. :roll:

 

[sunspotbaby]

I know there was a massive traffic jam the day they opened. :roll:

SB, you really don't have to drive all the way over to Niceville to shop at Walmart.

 

[scooterbug44]

Silly, they were talking about it on the radio as part of the daily traffic report.

I drive to the Target in Pier Park or Destin if I can't absolutely can't find an item in Sowal. ;-)

 

[Smiling JOe]

I cannot recall the size of the normal Pulbix, but the one in WaterColor is about half size. From what I remember, the new Walmart on 98 will be about half the size of a NOT-So-Super-Walmart. I also recall one hoop the BCC made them promise was that the store had to be about 40% groceries. If they stick to that, they will have much less of the other crap. Maybe they will still have a tease of everything, but much, much less choice of brands and size selections. I saw the shiny new Not-So-Super-Walmart in Niceville this morning. It was busy and looks better tucked away off the main road.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I wonder if they will replant some trees so there is a buffer of natural landscaping between the store and the highway...I wish all businesses along 98 had to do this.
In Panama City, the places where a buffer of natural trees was left between the buildings and the highway are so much more attractive...

Also, I wonder when the rest of the median along 98 will be planted like that from Grand Blvd east to 30A? It is one of the nicest things ever done around here IMO.

 

[Teresa]

A small Walmart will be a blessing, imo! I know how much I love my tiny publix at WaterColor (except on the high season crowded times - but you learn when not to go).

 

[miznotebook]

I wonder if they will replant some trees so there is a buffer of natural landscaping between the store and the highway...I wish all businesses along 98 had to do this.
In Panama City, the places where a buffer of natural trees was left between the buildings and the highway are so much more attractive...

Also, I wonder when the rest of the median along 98 will be planted like that from Grand Blvd east to 30A? It is one of the nicest things ever done around here IMO.

Those buffers do look nice, and I'm not sure about the median.
Since the Walmart is going on the U.S. 98 Scenic Corridor, the landscape plan was required to be reviewed by the Scenic Corridor Review Board along with the other aspects of the aesthetics. There are requirements for developments on the corridor for a certain number of trees and the types of trees that are planted. Since Topsail Preserve State Park and the Topsail West tract where the store will be located were originally one St. Joe property before the state acquired the park, I understand that vegetation preservation requirements for that whole property were considered to have been satisfied by Topsail Preserve.