Walmart, in an attempt to bring in more revenue, is in process of opening 600 neighborhood markets in various cities around the country. The Ocala store, south on Highway 200, held its grand opening a few days ago.
This neighborhood market is substantially smaller than the other three Walmart stores in Ocala. Ocala's neighborhood market is about 42,000 square feet. It operates in much the same way as our traditional supermarkets. Although it showcases a wide array of products, it focuses on food and sundries and therefore does not offer very much in the way of hardware, automotive supplies, sporting goods, home goods, etc.
Additionally, it's reported the neighborhood markets will have better prices than their giant-sized stores and after a brief shopping spree at the Ocala store, we can say that was true to our experience.
I could mention that not all the shelves were stocked and that more checkout clerks are needed, but they've just opened and are still in process of getting things right. We'll check back later when the store has been up and running for awhile.
Following Walmart tradition, the neighborhood market does have a gas station in front, which many customers will find helpful.
18 comments:
Different than the ones we see up here.
That store looks so big, it's too big for me :) I like to just run in and get what I need and run out. I don't care for shopping but we all need food :)
Coming to Canada soon? Walmart stores are going strong here. The Sam's Club were failure. What's next... Walmart banks?
when you said Walmart was opening a market I thought you meant an outdoor farmers market, but no, just another supermarket by the looks of it.... sigh....
It doesn't look over busy. That would be a plus. Some are so crowded that you can't get around very well.
It looks quite different from ours and there are no gas stations at any of the ones up here!
I am not a fan of Walmart because of their employment practices. I've visited their stores approximately 3 times and did not leave with any merchandise. Their employees were not familiar with their inventory, and I didn't enjoy the store's displays. My preference is Target, if I go into any of these discount stores. My preference is still for small, independent merchants. What you describe certainly is an improvement that I have seen on my limited visits to Walmart.
New Walmart stores are a mixed blessing to a town at best. Yes, their prices are lower, but they devastate local retail business leaving abandoned Main Streets, and pay such low wages that a high percentage of their workers quality for food stamps and welfare benefits. They hire a high percentage of part time workers so they don't have to provide benefits. Their fresh food quality is generally quite good, but there are other, unusually unseen, prices to pay for having Walmart in the neighborhood. They play a major role in our unbalanced trade with China as a high percentage of the products they sell come from China. Today Walmart announced they have purchased Jet, an on-line retailer, so they can compete with Amazon. The City of Chicago kept Walmart out for decades, but have now allowed them to build stores there.
Nice photos, Lowell! The Walmarts here in Quebec are blue in colour. (the facade). Refreshing to see the colour of the one in your photo!
I'm fine if it doesn't come to a neighborhood near me. We have a "superstore" in Sequim and another in the town next door. I recently needed some produce and found that the prices in the superstore were higher than our locally owned market, one that has very good produce.
Lovely photo essay!
Looks very peaceful place for spending time. Nicely captured.
Curiosas imágenes..un saludo desde Murcia....
I love your bit of photojournalism today. I, too, had a positive experience at one of the smaller Wal-Marts.
Janis
GDP
Big shopping Lowell, ha? Where is your full cart?
I do not like Wal Mart. But it's hard to resist lower prices.
I don't have much experience with Walmart. I never go into their stores. this one looks quite neat and tidy.
There is a new one just like that but without the gas station near where we used to live (in our past life). It's still not within walking distance of much at all. So if we still lived there, as long as we had to get out the car, I'd probably choose to go to one of the same Kroger stores I shop at now. Was curious to see what all they carried though and about the prices -- maybe we'll stop by sometime out of curiousity
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