The former home of Turlock's Mervyn's will soon host a Walmart store.
Reeve-Knight Construction, responsible for developing the building, confirmed the long-suspected development on their website. Reeve-Knight employees could not be reached for comment.
Turlock Deputy Director of Development Services Debbie Whitmore confirmed Thursday that construction permits have been pulled for the building. But Whitmore said developers have yet to inform Turlock of the tenant.
It remains unclear exactly what type of store Walmart will build in the former Mervyn's building, located at 2840 Geer Rd. But based on allowed uses for the site, the business is expected to be a Walmart Neighborhood Market, rumored as far back as April 2012
Turlock Planning Commissioners approved repurposing the 61,000 square foot building as a 24-hour discount grocery store in April 2012. At that time, no prospective tenant was identified, but building elevations depicted the Mervyns building repainted in the brown and tan color scheme of Walmart Neighborhood Market stores.
As only a discount grocery store is permitted at the site, Walmart would be unable to build a rumored Sam's Club or general Walmart Discount Store in the former Mervyn's.
Walmart introduced the Neighborhood Market chain in 1998 as smaller-footprint stores offering mainly groceries and a pharmacy. Walmart now operates about 200 such stores, averaging 38,000 square feet and employing 95 associates.
The former Mervyn's has sat vacant since the chain announced bankruptcy in 2009.
More information will follow on this story as it becomes available.
Related Article:
Old Mervyn's to Become Walmart, Confirmed by Construction Company
Planning Commission Public Hearing on Old Mervyn’s Building Tenant, Possibly a 24/7 Walmart
Vacant Mervyn’s and Longs Buildings Planning for New Tenants on Geer Road
