Walmart to open on North Trail Wednesday

A new Walmart neighborhood grocery store will celebrate with a grand opening Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. on the North Trail in Sarasota.

The store will employ about 90.

The 34,244-square-foot Walmart Neighborhood Market at 3500 N. Tamiami Trail replaces the former Winn-Dixie at that location.

Walmart first opened Walmart Neighborhood Markets in 1998, and now operates nearly 200 stores across the country. According to a Walmart's news release, there are plans to add approximately 80 nation-wide this year. The smaller store format is designed to provide convenient shopping for groceries, pharmacy items and general merchandise.

The store will host a grand-opening celebration at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 19. Store associates and local dignitaries will participate in a brief ceremony, followed by a ribbon cutting where the doors to the new store will be opened to the public. The store will open to the public at 8 a.m.