TAYLORSVILLE — Utah's 25th Wal-Mart Supercenter opened here Wednesday morning, spurring new development, praise from city leaders — and a very crowded parking lot.
The new store, 5469 S. Redwood Road, was built next to the now-vacant building that housed the city's old Wal-Mart. City Administrator John Inch Morgan said he believes the fact that there has already been a Wal-Mart there may have been a factor in the small opposition the store faced.
"One of the advantages of building it on the same site where we already had a Wal-Mart is there's not the same kind of impact on the site," he said.
Other cities, including most recently Sandy and Riverton, have seen groups of residents organized against plans for Wal-Marts. However, many of those cities' Wal-Marts came after city planners changed zoning to allow the stores into previously undeveloped or residential areas.
The new 208,044-square-foot store is located directly behind the former store. It will employ approximately 496 people, including 300 jobs created by the relocation, according to a Wal-Mart news release.
Morgan called the Supercenter "a great opportunity for the city," touting not only the increased sales tax revenue the store will bring but also the shopping advantages he sees for Taylorsville residents.
It has more inventory than the old Wal-Mart, Morgan said. "I think it's more convenient."
A Supercenter carries traditional Wal-Mart merchandise — from clothing and housewares to games, toys and electronics to lawn and garden needs — but also has a grocery store with a bakery and deli. The Taylorsville store will also have a Tire & Lube Express, a McDonald's restaurant, a portrait studio, a one-hour photo lab, a vision center, a pharmacy, a hair-and-nail salon, an America First Credit Union branch and a Wal-Mart Connect Center.
In addition, the expanded store has spurred new development nearby, including restaurants and other retail.
The opening also brought $20,000 in community donations from Wal-Mart's Good Works program, including $6,000 to the new Taylorsville Police Department's K-9 Unit. Money was also donated to the Unified Fire Authority, United Way of Salt Lake and three Taylorsville schools, among other groups.
As of July 2005, Wal-Mart employed 14,747 people in Utah. In addition to its Supercenters, Wal-Mart had four discount stores, five neighborhood markets, seven Sam's Clubs and three distribution centers in the state.
E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com