LONE STAR, TX - It seems that Wal-Mart is on the move again, having announced in the last few days that it plans on expanding its footprint in the Lone Star State with three new additions to its line of Wal-Mart Express stores in the towns of Naples, Tatum, and Lone Star. These new Wal-Mart locations bring with them the promise of new purchasing options and job opportunities for the members of these relatively small American towns.

The residents of Lone Star in particular are excited about the proposed expansion and what the 12,000 square foot Express store could do for the town's 1,600 current residents.

“We’re excited,” City Secretary Ruth Nash told the Lone Star newspaper.

While she did acknowledge the increased competition the warehouse giant would bring with it, she remained firm in her belief the net result would be good for Lone Star. “We’re just such a small little town that the new jobs that would be coming to staff the store and the additional sales tax revenue and property tax revenue — we think it will draw enough business into our town that it will more than offset what might happen to the other stores.”

Tatum Mayor Phil Cory added, “From a community standpoint, I’ve always believed competition is good at least." He did note, however, that the plans for the new Wal-Mart were still in the early preliminary stages.

This latest building project is just a part of an overall larger plan by Wal-Mart to expand its Express store line by 300 locations during 2014, according to reporters at Omaha.

“These smaller-format stores are the result of us listening to our customers,” said Wal-Mart spokesperson Betsy Harden. “They are telling us they want new ways to shop.”

Wal-Mart's line of smaller Express stores focus largely on groceries and general merchandise with some stores also featuring a gas station. According to a news release by the National Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing, the average Express location is roughly 15,000 square feet although West Texas locations look to be closer to a 11,000-12,000 square foot range.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for any further updates on Wal-Mart and its plans for expansion.  

Wal-Mart