The Bentonville, AR-based retailer may decide on the location inthe first quarter, according to published reports. Wal-Martofficials declined comment.

The property, located at 1421 163rd St. in unincorporatedMiami-Dade County, is several blocks south of the city of NorthMiami Beach. Area officials say the project would provide a boostfor the area. The 163rd Street Mall, built in 1956, has severalstorefronts that are boarded up on the east side. Wal-Mart islooking at that location, published reports indicate.

Until the late 1980s, the 163 Street Mall was anchored byJordan-Marsh and Burdines department stores. The twin anchors gavethe 44-year-old center a strong customer-attracting magnet. But theopening of Aventura Mall to the north and a demographic shift inpopulation beginning in 1990 led to the mall's decline. The areaaround it, however, has seen some redevelopment in the last fiveyears. Target and Costco are relative newcomers just to the east innearby North Miami Beach.