Journal. November 8, 2004: City Hall Executive Officer Paul Wood described Friday to WPCNR how Wal-Mart came to “The Shoppes On Main,” the stackmall being created next door to City Hall.

Paul Wood, City Executive Officer, left. Photo by WPCNR News.

Wood said Mayor Joseph Delfino held discussions with Anthony Ditomasso, head of Ivy Equities, when Delfino first heard Wal-Mart was considering space at Ivy Equities leased space at the old Sears center. Mr. Wood said the Mayor suggested that the City Center residences going up could use a supermarket, and that Wal-Mart agreed to put in a supermarket as part of their space at the suggestion of the Mayor. Mayor Delfino had originally been opposed to Wal-Mart coming in on the thinking it would be competitive to Target.

Mayor Joseph Delfino Suggested Supermarket to make Wal-Mart fit in better with Downtown Needs, according to Mr. Wood.  Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Mr. Wood said the Wal-Mart general merchandise section would be on the first floor (basement floor) below street level (formerly the floor where McDonald’s was located. The supermarket would be on the second floor. Wood said the supermarket would be about 4,000 square feet on the 40,000 square foot second floor, but Wal-Mart has yet to confirm that. Wal-Mart has a prototype store format they call Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, that features 40,000 square feet of grocery, pharmacy and fresh produce, meats, bakery, and dry goods selection. The way Mr. Wood described the White Plains Wal-Mart grocery it would be smaller in scale.

Mr. Wood also said that Wal-Mart was in the process of putting together an upscale design on the exterior of the supermarket floor that would feature a new logo treatment and be attractive. He said Wal-Mart had agreed to “enhance their look.” He said that Wal-Mart would have to submit a “traffic plan” to the Building Department as part of their plans. Presently the Sears garage is accessed off of Hamilton Avenue, off of Main Street and from North Broadway (Southbound).

He confirmed that Wal-Mart did not need Common Council approval of their building plans.

THE WAL-MART WATCH: Target's archrival has taken space (2 82,000 sq. foot floors) in the former Sears location across the street from City Center, home of Target. The rumors of Wal-Mart eyeballing the space first surfaced in August. Mayor Joseph Delfino went on record at the time as saying he preferred Wal-Mart, (an arch competitor of Target) not rent the space, now the Mayor has devised an acceptable plan. Photo by WPCNR News