Walmart plans to build first Neighborhood Market in East Manatee

MANATEE -- Walmart is planning to build its first Neighborhood Market store in Manatee County at the corner of State Road 70 and Lockwood Ridge Road.

A recently razed but long closed Winn Dixie store formerly occupied the location.

The grocery would measure approximately 43,201-square-feet, according to documents submitted to the Manatee County Building Department.

Neighborhood Markets are smaller than regular Walmart stores. The company already has a Supercenter at 2911 53rd Ave. E., less than two miles away.

The arrival of a Neighborhood Market would ratchet up competition and customer choices at the Lockwood Ridge Road-State Road 70 intersection. Manatee County's newest Publix supermarket is located on the southwest corner of the intersection.

In March, the Manatee County Commission unanimously approved a 17,018-square-foot Aldi grocery store at 4525 53rd Ave. E.. Aldi would be located at the corner of State Road 70 and 45th Street East.

Property owner Gryboski Howe & Gravley of Decatur, Ga., is proposing to build 161,000 square feet of retail space on 26-acres on the southeast corner of Lockwood Ridge Road and S.R. 70, the Herald previously reported.

Also previously announced for the property is a planned 6,119-square-foot Wawa gas station.

Helping make the new retail space available for development is Space Coast Credit Union's acquisition of the land Dec. 31, 2013, for $5.11 million as part of a bank seizure.

GH&G Lockwood acquired the 26.5 acres Nov.

19, 2014, the Herald previously reported.

Comments from Manatee County staff members and Southern Manatee Fire Rescue are due May 13, 2015.

It is not unusual for Walmart to open a Neighborhood Market near one of its Supercenters. Walmart recently opened a 41,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market on the corner of Bee Ridge and Beneva roads in Sarasota, three miles away from a Supercenter on Cattlemen Road, the Herald previously reported.

The Herald was unable to reach Walmart corporate representatives late Friday for more information.

This story was originally published April 25, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Walmart plans to build first Neighborhood Market in East Manatee ."