As published in the Fort Mill Times:

January 14, 2016

By John Marks

Fort Mill Square should have its first new opening this spring, with several more to follow by summer.

Walmart Neighborhood Market will open first.

“The store will be opening in the spring,” said spokesperson Caroline Crosthwait. “The exact date hasn’t been determined quite yet.”

Walmart opened a hiring center for the new store in November, with plans to hire most or all of the projected 95 positions by December for a January opening. Now the projected opening comes a little later.

Some hires are in place, though more remain.

“The store has hired quite a few associates and will continue to hire until a team large enough to serve the Fort Mill community is created,” Crosthwait said.

Mack Cross, project manager for the Fort Mill Square makeover by Sunbelt Ventures, estimates an April completion for Walmart. Main construction for the retail building will be done about the same time. New tenants will come in to tailor their spaces, resulting in likely summer openings.

Construction is “well underway,” Cross said, with roof and exterior work taking place. The former retail building, most recently overflow space for USA Tire & Auto Care and a hardware store, will be expanded by 1,200 square feet. It will hold up to five tenants.

Two have contracts, but haven’t been named. One is a nail salon and the other is a hair care shop.

“They’re local operators,” Cross said. “It’s not necessarily a franchise.”

Remaining spots include a 2,500-square-foot end space with an outdoor patio, ideal for a restaurant.

“We’re in discussion with a couple of restaurants,” Cross said.

When the former Food Lion shopping center came down to make room for the Walmart Neighborhood Market, the demolition cost Los Aztecas its spot. The restaurant owners have sites in Indian Land and near Tega Cay. Cross said he understands how popular the restaurant was, and expects a new restaurant to capitalize on a relative lack of dining out options in that area.

Cross also hasn’t ruled out Los Aztecas returning.

“No, it hasn’t (been ruled out),” he said. “We’ve kind of had discussions with them all along, but so far we haven’t been able to come to an agreement. It’s not been completely ruled out.”

It’s been challenging sticking to a construction schedule, Cross said, with so many weather delays of late. Cross said he understands people in the community who are ready to have the businesses open.

“We’re definitely looking forward to it as well,” he said.

Walmart Neighborhood Markets were designed in 1998 as a smaller-footprint option for communities in need of a pharmacy, affordable fresh groceries and select household merchandise. The Neighborhood Markets average 38,000 square feet and employ approximately 95 associates. Walmart currently operates more than 500 Neighborhood Markets nationwide.

Neighborhood Markets also give customers access to items online through their Site to Store service, which makes all of the merchandise of Walmart.com available for purchase and delivered for free to local stores. Customers can pre-pay for those purchases online or at the store.