by Jeff Saunders
Reporter
Macedonia -- Shoppers at Wal-Mart's Macedonia Commons store could see a big change in the next 18 months, as the company plans to expand the store into a "supercenter," complete with a grocery section.
The expansion will mean more than 100 new Wal-Mart employees.
The city's planning commission approved an architect's site plan for the expansion Dec. 22.
John Lateuelere, representing Wal-Mart, agreed to work with commission member Kevin Westbrooks, a traffic engineer, on how traffic will be routed through the parking lot after the expansion.
Jason Wetzel, spokesperson for Wal-Mart's Ohio and Indiana region, said construction may begin next summer.
Wetzel said space for such non-food items as clothing, cosmetics and household merchandise are part of the expansion plan.
"The tentative schedule, and I stress tentative, is for construction to be completed by mid-summer 2010," said Wetzel.
Plans call for the 121,000-square-foot store to be expanded by another 46,000 square feet, allowing for the addition of a grocery area and more room for other departments.
The total number of different products carried by the store is expected to increase from 120,000 to 142,000 said Wetzel. Wetzel said the average number of employees at a supercenter is roughly 300. The store currently has about 190, he said.
Lateuelere said Wal-Mart has approved design changes requested by the city, including using more of a "Western Reserve" style on the storefront. Usunobun Osagie, representing the project's architect, said the design was altered to incorporate additional red brick in the facade and decorative edges.
Commission members and City Architect Dennis Saxe said they were satisfied with the changes, but requested a few more tweaks such as the installation of antique lighting in place of more modern lights. Wetzel said Dec. 24 that the plans were being revised to reflect these changes.
Editor's note: This news was first posted Dec. 24 on www.the-news-leader.com.
E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com
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