The city of Auburn is steadily growing, and residents will soon have two new places to shop for groceries. Two Walmart Neighborhood Market store are currently under construction. The stores, one on the corner of Opelika Road and East University (the site of the former Kmart), the other on Shug Jordan Parkway near North Donahus Drive, are planned to open in January 2016.
These stores are different from a typical Walmart Supercenter that most people are used to visiting. The Neighborhood Market brand is an upscale grocery store offering fresh produce and meats as well as baked goods. Each 41,000-square-foot grocery store will have a gas station operated by Walmart Neighborhood Market as well as a drive-through pharmacy. Each store will employ about 100 people, which is another great advancement for the community.
On the East University Drive-Opelika Road site, retailers are being recruied to occupy two stand-alone parcels, one about two-thirds of an acre and one about an acre and a half, that will complement the grocery store. The outparcel that fronts East University Drive will be for restaurant use, while the back parcel will be retail. Residents will have new places to dine and shop.
On Shug Jordan Parkway, the Neighborhood Market will be a stand-alone store and fuel station with no other retailers planned. But developers are working with the city to make the buildings’ exterior appearances go above and beyond that of a typical Neighborhood Market.
Any development such as this only adds value to the beautiful Auburn/Opelika area. By adding jobs, new places shops, and more dining options, it truly shows what a great place Auburn is.