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| Marcia Veidmark |
PHOENIX, AZ – Walmart has announced plans to build a
Supercenter at the iconic Metrocenter Mall, near I-17 and 35th Avenue,
in northwest Phoenix.
Work on the project
is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2015 with the demolition of the former
Broadway building, which has been vacant since 2006.
Officials with Walmart, the City of Phoenix and Metrocenter
Mall, as well as area business owners and community leaders, were on-hand for
the Supercenter announcement. This marks the single largest capital investment
in Metrocenter Mall in decades.
“Metrocenter Mall is a Phoenix landmark that has served
shoppers from across Arizona for decades,” said Phoenix City Councilwoman Thelda
Williams.
“I’m proud to be a part of this announcement with Walmart and I
know that, together with its efforts and those of the City of Phoenix and area
business and community leaders, Metrocenter Mall’s best days are still ahead.”
Metrocenter Mall opened in 1973 as the biggest shopping
center in Arizona and one of the largest nationwide. Recent years saw
Metrocenter challenged by the establishment of competing regional malls,
changing shopping patterns and the Great Recession.
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| Thelda Williams |
Now, Metrocenter Mall owner
Carlyle Development Group, the City of Phoenix and community leaders are intent
on bringing new life to the area. In mid-March, the Phoenix City Council
unanimously approved a redevelopment plan that will, over the coming decade, guide
land use, infrastructure upgrades and public transportation for a 2,500-acre
area, including Metrocenter Mall. Currently, the retail vacancy rate in the
vicinity averages 28 percent, more than double the citywide figure.
The construction of a Walmart Supercenter is a critical part
of Metrocenter’s turnaround, said Warren Fink, COO of Carlyle
Development Group.
“Our vision when we acquired Metrocenter Mall two-and-a-half
years ago was to bring in a well-known anchor to serve our local community.
Walmart more than fulfills that requirement and we are thrilled to welcome
them,” said Fink.
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| Warren Fink |
“This is a first
step toward revitalizing a once dominant mall, rebuilding customer commitment
and moving forward with plans for the future of Metrocenter that include rezoning
to permit complimentary uses such as multifamily apartments, senior housing,
corporate offices, healthcare facilities and medical offices.”
Marcia Veidmark, Chairwoman of the North Mountain
Business Alliance, is supportive of the Walmart Supercenter, and said its
development should help attract additional customers and capital investment to
the area.
“This is a very good day for Metrocenter Mall and for the
Metro and North Mountain communities,” said Veidmark. “Walmart’s investment can be a catalyst for economic growth and
job creation. We need both of these.”
For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please
contact:
Stacey Hershauer
focusAZ
Marketing & Public Relations
(480) 600-0195
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