PORT ANGELES — Wal-Mart on Thursday confirmed it is considering building a new store on the site of the former Kmart store on U.S. Highway 101 at Kolonels Way.
“We do have an interest in the area and we’re looking to put a store there to serve our customers, but we don’t have any final plans as of yet,” said Eric Berger, the retail giant’s community affairs spokesman for Washington.
The former Kmart location is vacant after the building’s latest tenant, Antiques & More, quit business earlier this year.
Berger declined to say when the company might make a decision. He said he probably would have no news for at least a month.
He also did not indicate what might happen to the current Wal-Mart store across U.S. Highway 101 from the site, other than to say: “We’re in the middle of that process right now.”
Work crews have been seen boring soil samples at the Kmart location.
A source at the existing Wal-Mart, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new store might be a so-called “supercenter” that would include a grocery store.
Kmart closed its store in 1998 and entered bankruptcy in 2002, recently resurgent in a $13.4 billion acquisition merger with Sears, Roebuck and Co.
PA property sold in 2001
Meantime, Kent developer Ryan Dunne bought the Port Angeles property in 2001.
Since then it has been considered by Target Corp. and by Grocery Outlet discount foods, but neither deal was consummated.
On Wednesday, Dunne said Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was “seriously considering buying the shopping center.”
The Bentonville, Ark.-based company would demolish the existing 70,000-square-foot building and build a new structure.