The Way I See It!

Franklin Wal-Mart Supercenter

Posted by Randy Hollenbeck on July 28, 2010

Franklin, Development, Retail, Wal-Mart

Redesigned Wal-Mart includes groceries

Franklin — Wal-Mart unveiled its latest store design Wednesday at a remodeled store on S. 27th St. that includes a full grocery operation in an expanded 211,000-square-foot format.

The Franklin Wal-Mart is one of several in the area that have been remodeled and upgraded with grocery offerings, including stores in Lake Geneva and Sturtevant. Over the past 19 months, the Franklin store received an exterior facelift with a more upscale look: earthtone brick on the building, and red brick pavers on the drive in front of the store.

"All of the walls have been rebuilt in some way," said co-manager Jessica Van Buren.  The grocery section is on the west side of the store, where 60,000-square-feet were added.  The grocery department includes a full-service deli and bakery.

Aisles are wider throughout the store, and merchandise has been re-arranged to place consumable products - cleaning items, paper goods, disposable diapers, pet food - near the grocery store.  The store also has a department that is new to Wal-Mart, "Celebrate," with party and wedding supplies and decorations.

"It's presented very nicely," said Angie Evrard of Franklin, who was shopping in the produce section. Some of Wal-Mart's grocery prices are cheaper than competitors', some are not, said Evrard, who regularly shops at Pick 'n Save and at the Sendik's on S. 51st and W. Rawson Ave.

"I think Pick 'n Save will have competition," Evrard said.

The remodeled Franklin store is an example of what Wal-Mart calls "Project Impact," said David Livingston, a Waukesha supermarket consultant.  "They're getting away from the 'supercenter' name," Livingston said.

http://www.jsonline.com/business/98475554.html