WALMART COMING TO NICEVILLE

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Walmart and Niceville, who would have thought that day would come. As you will read on, this has been something in the works for many years. There is also a story why it took so long. But another day for that. Basically, with all of the economic growth coming to our area, it was in the cards. If you think this is big news, stay tuned, more will follow. MORE PEOPLE MORE PEOPLE MORE PEOPLE.

Walmart gets final permit
The 154,000-square-foot Supercenter could open by the end of the year
By DUSTY RICKETTS
Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4448 dricketts@nwfdailynews.com  
NICEVILLE — The city’s staff signed off on the building permit for the Walmart Supercenter late Tuesday morning. Construction is expected to start next month.
Negotiations to bring Walmart to Niceville have been going on for almost a decade. Niceville’s staff has worked on the store’s planning and development for about four years.
The roughly 154,000-square-foot Supercenter tentatively is expected to open by the end of the year.
“They’re going to start construction within the next three to four weeks,” said Niceville building official Don Baccadutre. “The site’s already ready for them, so that’s one big advantage. The site’s been prepared, and it’s been approved, so all they have to do is start digging the footings.

“It’s not like they’re starting to knock down trees. That’s already been done,” Baccadutre added. “The infrastructure is all in the ground, the water and sewer. All they have to do is start the actual building.”
In addition to getting a construction p e r m i t , Wa l m a r t recently paid $34,390 in permitting fees for the new building. An additional $29,150 will be due when construction is complete.
Walmart representatives say the store will blend in with the community.

“It has one of the latest store designs,” said Daniel Morales, communications director for Walmart. “Each of these store designs is meant to complement the community around it.”
Morales said the new Walmart likely will employ 200 to 250 people when it opens. No date was available Tuesday for when the store will start hiring, but Morales said anyone interested should regularly check www.walmartstores.com   for updates.

The entrance to the new Walmart is being built close to the Century 21 office on John Sims Parkway. While Walmart will be the first store to go in, a shopping center nearby is in the planning stages.
“This is the tip of the iceberg,” Baccadutre said. “After you see Walmart, I think you’ll start to see other things come in.”
Walmart will dramatically change the landscape of Niceville. Small changes already can be seen.

Earlier this month, the main building of the Niceville Garden Center was moved about one block to the west. After 21 years in the same location, the rest of the business will move to the new site in the next two months, said Tammy Winchenbach, who owns the business with her husband, Dan.

Winchenbach said she did not think the Walmart Supercenter, which has its own garden center, will hurt her business. She expects her store’s loyal customers to follow it to its new location.
Although Winchenbach said she didn’t think Niceville necessarily needed a Walmart, she is looking forward to the convenience of having one so close.
“I don’t have any problem going into Fort Walton Beach or Destin, but I’m sure I will pop in (to the new Niceville store),” Winchenbach said.

Not everyone is looking forward to it. Marguerite Hartt said one of the reasons her family moved to Niceville was because it was a small community without the big-box retailer.

“I really don’t want Walmart here at all,” Hartt said. “I don’t like that they come in and take over little towns. I don’t shop there.”