TOMS RIVER, NJ-Most of Wal-Mart's newer stores around the country are of the Supercenter variety, combining the standard discount store with a supermarket. New Jersey has been the exception, with only one Supercenter unit to date, in Washington Twp.
That lone Supercenter will now be joined by a 203,000-sf unit in this Ocean County community, a store that will replace an existing standard Wal-Mart nearby. The existing store is about half the size of the new one, according to a Wal-Mart spokesperson, who says that the chain opted for a different site because the existing site doesn't have enough land for an expansion.
Company officials say they are projecting an early 2006 opening for the new store. Actual groundbreaking depends on getting approvals from two different municipal governments. The site is on the border of Dover Twp., the municipality encompassing Toms River, and Manchester Twp. Officials of both towns have already given indications of support.
The current store, which opened a decade ago, currently does some $70 million in sales per year, according to Wal-Mart's figures. Company officials also estimate that the existing staff of about 250 will be boosted to 400 employees when the new store opens.
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