Speaking of Walmart (told you) ...
In the end, turns out, I didn't need Mitchell Rasansky to tell me what everyone already knew -- or guessed, anyhow. Because, as I discovered this morning, the permits were filed with the city two months ago and approved December 29. So, yes, brace yourself, Lower Greenville. You are indeed about to get a Walmart Neighborhood Market in the building formerly occupied by that Whole Foods.
Well, actually, the neighborhood market thing's not confirmed; Walmart officials haven't returned calls or emails sent this morning, and folks in Sustainable Development and Building Inspection can't say for sure. "They never identified it as a neighborhood market," says one of Dallas's senior building officials.
But city officials confirm: There will be a Walmart going in almost directly across from the planned Trader Joe's on the old Arcadia site. And it will occupy only the former Whole Foods and not the next-door Blockbuster: Plans call for filling 34,630 square feet with coolers for meat and produce and dairy products, a bakery and a pharmacy, for starters. Per Walmart's website, "A typical store is about 42,000 square feet." The plan also notes: "No late hours."
Tried calling Rasansky. He's out of the country till Monday.