Wal-Mart still on tap for Quincy

By Fred Pace
The Register-Herald

August 12, 2008 06:08 pm

— Despite delays, Wal-Mart is still planning to build a new Supercenter store in eastern Kanawha County in Quincy, a Wal-Mart spokesperson said Thursday.
“Earlier this year we did re-evaluate our growth strategy across the country, which caused a delay in virtually all projects not under construction,” said Kelly Hobbs, a senior manager for Wal-Mart Public Affairs and Government Relations.
Hobbs says construction on the Quincy Supercenter is scheduled to start in early 2009. The store would be on U.S. 60, next to Riverside High School.
“We anticipate a grand opening sometime in early 2010,” she said.
Wal-Mart’s plans are to build a $3.5 million store that will employ 250 to 300 people.
When the new store was first announced, officials said construction was scheduled to begin in August 2007, with the store opening in March 2008.
Drew Payne, who owns the land through his Quincy Coal Co., did not immediately return telephone messages seeking a comment.
In 2007, Payne told reporters he had worked with Wal-Mart for two years to bring the store to the area.
According to building plans submitted in April, the store will be almost 194,000 square feet. Of that, 181,000 square feet will be floor space. The store could accommodate more than 5,000 people.
According to David Armstrong, director for Kanawha County Planning & Development, Wal-Mart obtained a building permit in 2007, but it has expired.
“They haven’t renewed the permit yet, but I wouldn’t anticipate any problems if, or when, they re-apply,” he said.
Hobbs indicated Wal-Mart would re-apply closer to the date of the scheduled construction in early 2009.
The plans also mentioned a portrait studio, optician shop, and pharmacy and hair salon. Supercenters carry a total of about 142,000 items, including groceries. Supercenters also usually employ 250 to 350 people.
The land is about 77 acres, and the Wal-Mart will occupy 20 acres.
Original plans were to develop the other land for other retailers.
In addition to the adjacent Riverside High School, there is a Pioneer Federal Credit Union and the nearby Quincy Mall includes a Kroger, a McDonald’s, a Magic Mart, a Dollar General Store, a Gino’s, a Rite-Aid, a pet store, a movie video store, a standalone BB&T ATM machine and a Chinese restaurant.
The Quincy detachment of the West Virginia State Police is also located at the Quincy Mall.
There are 30 Wal-Mart Supercenters, four discount stores and five Sam’s Club stores in West Virginia. The closest Wal-Marts to the Quincy site are at Southridge, about 15 miles to the northwest; Oak Hill, 25 miles to the southeast; and Cross Lanes, about 25 miles to the northwest.
The company has been the largest private-sector employer in the state every year since 1998.
— E-mail:
fpace@register-herald.com