Wal-Mart in the Windy City

Wal-Mart (Bentonville, Ark.) has filed an application with the city of Chicago to open a Wal-Mart Discount Store at North and Kilpatrick avenues on the city's west side. The store would be Wal-Mart's first in the city of Chicago.

Plans call for a 150,000-square-foot store on a site which currently houses the vacant Lever Shampoo factory. The store would carry more than 80,000 products, ranging from apparel and automotive products to electronics and sporting goods. If approved by the city, it could open by spring 2005.

Wal-Mart officials stated that the discount retailer continues to evaluate the possibility of opening more Wal-Marts in the area, including additional urban neighborhoods. It currently operates 48 stores in the Chicago area, under the names Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

“We believe urban customers want the same choices in retail that our suburban customers already enjoy, and we want to provide Chicago residents with the opportunity to take advantage of our signature Every Day Low Prices,” says John Biso, Mid-West regional manager of community affairs for Wal-Mart.