Construction on Walmart Expansion Expected to Start in Summer 2013

Construction on the Walmart Supercenter expansion in St. Charles is expected to begin in summer 2013 and finish by summer 2014. 

The company plans to add an additional 57,012 square feet to the existing 134,410 square foot building, which will make it one of the largest supercenters in the state, according to store manager Jeff Hines. 

Daniel Morales, Director Communications and Community
Relations for Wal-Mart, said in an email that the company will work hard to minimize disruptions for customers. 

The St. Charles Walmart is one of just two in the St. Louis region that aren't already "Supercenters" with a full grocery department. Hines said during a Planning and Zoning meeting that they expect to see 10,000 to 12,000 people a day. 

"Our customers tell us they want the convenience of one-stop shopping," Morales said via email. "By combining general merchandise and a full line of groceries in one convenient location, the store will offer shoppers the convenience of one-stop shopping close to home."

Four retail shops in the adjacent strip mall between Walmart and Sam's Club will be demolished. Those shops include Dots, Payless, Sports Clips and Fashion Bug, said Director of Community Development Bruce Evans.

The 600 Fashion Bug shops across the country were already slated to close by early 2013 after the parent company was acquired earlier this year, according to a story in the Pittsburgh Business Times. 

A manager who answered the phone at the St. Charles location said employees haven't been told the precise closing date yet, but they know it will be sometime at the end of the year. 

She said the more than 10 employees are looking for new jobs.