New Super Walmart near I-95 to replace store at NSB Regional Shopping Center

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick

At left, New Smyrna Beach resident John Mc Elroy shops at Walmart 3 a.m. Friday at the NSB Regional Shopping Center on State Road 44. The  is expected to close next year with the planned building of a Super Walmart further west near Interstate 95.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Walmart has been the shopping mecca of New Smyrna Beach for years, but complaints about limited parking, increased traffic and limited merchandise have led to the planned building of a Super Walmart further west on the 44 corridor, near Interstate 95. Groundbreaking could come as early as August.

That sounds like great bell ringing to the ears of first-term Mayor Adam Barringer who envisioned enhanced commercial growth near Interstate 95 in his economic development plan unveiled within 100 days of his being sworn into office.

"We need to continue to grow our tax base to meet our city's needs," Barringer said.

The western end of the city is a natural offshoot of continuing ways to further economic development, the mayor and other city officials stress.

The Walmart would be the firstphase of a 375,000-square-foot retail Center to be built on a 37-acre parcel called the Shoppes at Coronado. Regency Center of Jacksonville purchased the acreage for $11.5 million, prior to seeking site plan approval from the city in January. Construction bids are expected to be submitted by July 8.

Construction could take 12 to 14 months, city officials estimate.

NSB Regional Shopping Center would still have two other anchor stores in Bealls Outlet and Publix and the mayor is optimistic, the space vacated by Walmart would be attractive to other potential merchandisers.