Walmart is currently looking to open a supercenter in the city. Danny Morales, Walmart's public relations officer, said today the company is in the planning stage for a new facility that will be at a different location than the current store.
"We are doing our due diligence which is a process we do for every store, and we are still working that phase," he said. "The store should open at the end of 2013."
The supercenter will have a full line of groceries and pharmacy as well as an expanded selection of general merchandise in a 120,000-square foot facility.
In addition to new services, dozens of positions will be added to the current staff, Morales said.
"We will hire an additional 60 to 80 associates, and these are good-paying jobs," he said. "The average associate in Texas earns $12.06 per hour and qualified associates will have health benefits, 401K matching funds and bonuses."
The store would be constructed from the ground up at a yet-to-be announced location. Morales was not sure what other services, such as optometry, tire and lube express and Murphy USA gas pumps, would be available at the store as of press time.
According to the company website, Walmart was founded in 1962 with the opening of the first discount store in Rogers, Ark. The company grew to 276 stores in 11 states by the end of the 1960s. In 1983, the company opened its first Sam's Club membership warehouse and in 1988 opened the first supercenter -- now the company's dominant format -- featuring a complete grocery store in addition to general merchandise.
