Walmart to open store in Saugus

SAUGUS – With a Target and a Kmart located just over a mile away off of Route 1, Saugus will be welcoming another big box store to the neighborhood: Walmart.Town Manager Andrew Bisignani met with representatives from Walmart along with property developers at Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon, to formally agree on the opening of a new Walmart store on Route 1.The proposed 114,000-square foot location will be located at 770 Broadway, on the northbound side of Route 1 next to McDonald?s.?There?s been discussion but we?ve never met the tenants,” said Bisignani. “Today was the first time we were given the go ahead to go public. We?re looking forward to it. It?s definitely an advantage and a benefit to the town. There?s been a lot of speculation of what was going in there, but now it?s definite. The ink is signed.”The new Walmart will create around 125 jobs and will feature both a full supermarket with a bakery, meat department and frozen goods along with a traditional Walmart store.For Selectman Scott Crabtree, creating more jobs is always important.?I think that?s a great opportunity for Saugus residents looking for employment and the tax revenue it will generate will be substantial,” said Crabtree. “Walmart is a very popular store and I think the community will be happy with it.”Bisignani said the permitting process will begin now and should take between three and six months before construction can begin. The site developers have also agreed to upgrade the water service in the area along with the nearby pumping station and will go before the planning board in July.?It?s going to be a big boom,” said Bisignani. “They?re going to employ at least 125 people. The commercial property taxes will be significant and there will be a lot of permit fees that the town will realize.”In an email to the Daily Item, Chris Buchanan, Walmart?s Director of Public Affairs & Government Relations, said Saugus will make an excellent location for a new store.?Our market research tells us that the Saugus area is under-served with respect to affordable groceries,” said Buchanan. “And a Walmart store at this location would be a desired location to serve Saugus-area residents.”With a Kmart and Target located right down Route 1, Buchanan said the added competition of a new Walmart will only help shoppers.?As always, Walmart focuses on providing the best prices and customer service regardless if there are nearby stores,” said Buchanan. “We feel competition is always a good thing and, at the end of the day, benefits consumers.”Paul Rupp, a financial adviser for Saugus, was also at the meetings with Walmart representatives and said he thinks a new Walmart store will be a boost to Saugus? economy.?I think it potentially has a lot of benefit for the town,” said Rupp. “Both in this first phase and the second phase that might build off of it. Certainly the empty land is not doing the town any good.”The first phase would be the construction of the new store on a nine-acre plot, followed by the potential for a new development on an adjacent eight-acre lot.?Once Walmart gets in and up and running, I?m sure that will be an attraction for another retailer or development to go in the adjacent lot,” said Bisignani.Aside from jobs, Bisignani said the new store should also help increase traffic to surrounding stores on Route 1.?People that go to Walmart will help restaurants and gas stations and there will be a lot of side benefits that will feed off of this,” said Bisignani. “I don?t see the downside in this.”