Town of Waukesha - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is considering converting its vacant store site on Highway 164 along Waukesha's eastern border to its smaller Neighborhood Market grocery format.
No similar Walmart store exists in Wisconsin, although one is planned but not yet approved in Kenosha, company spokeswoman Lisa Nelson said. A Walmart Neighborhood Market also has been proposed for Milwaukee's west side, and the company is considering one in Menomonee Falls as well.
Nationwide, Wal-Mart Stores has 183 of the neighborhood stores, which are typically less than a quarter of the size of the supercenter stores and feature groceries, pharmaceuticals and some general merchandise.
The Highway 164 store was vacated last year when a Walmart Supercenter opened on West Ave. north of Highway 59 on Waukesha's southwest side.
Preliminary plans call for a new, roughly 40,000-square-foot store to replace the 120,000-square-foot Walmart that stands vacant now. Retail stores could be built on out lots, with no new access from Highway 164.