St. Cloud, MN. Wal-Mart Plans on Hold

New Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club stores on hold [St. Cloud Times (Minn.)]

Plans to build a Wal-Mart in Waite Park appear to be on hold, and recent media reports indicate it could be part of a larger corporate plan to scale back expansions.
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Waite Park City Administrator Shaunna Johnson said Friday that plans to build new Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores in the city have been put on hold.

Related road improvements in Waite Park, including improving 10th Avenue South, are also on hold until development plans are established, she said.

A Star Tribune report earlier this week indicated that Wal-Mart has “ditched plans” to open new stores in the St. Cloud area and other Minnesota cities as part of a plan to scale back growth.

Wal-Mart did not respond Friday to a St. Cloud Times request for an interview.

In December Wal-Mart told the Times of plans to build a new Supercenter and Sam’s Club in Waite Park, creating 200 new jobs. The company said it would eventually close its current St. Cloud stores.

Plans included a multibuilding development along Minnesota Highway 23 and 10th Avenue South, near Menards.

Times Business Editor Britt Johnsen contributed to this report.

Posted by Alex Goldschmidt on Monday, May 05, 2008