Text 
No Comments [ Add Comment ]Sign of Growth
By Shane FarverSyracuse officials say new store only the beginning
SYRACUSE -- A new Wal-Mart Supercenter at 2228 W. 1700 South will open its doors on Monday, something officials believe is just the beginning of burgeoning commercial growth in the city.
"We're excited for the beginning of the openings in our town center and Wal-Mart will offer many services that will be long awaited in Syracuse," Mayor Fred Panucci said.
Among the products and services the 184,212-square-foot supercenter will provide are groceries, apparel, Tire and Lube Express, a McDonald's restaurant, SmartStyle hair salon and Da-Vi Nails salon.
"We're very excited to be a part of the community," said Store Manager Rick Jensen. "I think the community is excited to get us here."
As part of their arrival, the company donated $37,500 in grants Thursday to Davis County schools and organizations.
More than 350 employees will man the new Wal-Mart. Many come from areas surrounding Syracuse, Jensen said.
Panucci envisions a lively town center for his city with Wal-Mart as the anchor tenant.
"This is the beginning," he said. "It's going to be very exciting to see what other businesses spin off now that Wal-Mart is opening."
The Syracuse City Council has been in talks with developer Hawes, Brubaker and Neider for a proposed downtown movie theater complex and shopping center just west of the Wal-Mart.
"You can have an evening out and not have to leave our community," Panucci said.
Councilman Phillip Orton said the added tax revenue coming into Syracuse will enable the city to keep taxes low for its residents.
There is a need to bring more commercial development to the city, Orton said. He said the city was 94 percent residential and 6 percent commercial in late 2005.
He said he would like the city to be 70 percent residential and 30 percent commercial, but wants the change to take place slowly.
"Absolutely, you don't want to rush too much," he said. "I think that we're going at a good rate right now."
The City Council is also looking at changing the city's alcohol ordinance to allow sit-down restaurants that locate in Syracuse to serve alcohol. A first reading of the ordinance isn't expected for a month to month and a half. Wal-Mart will be opening without offering alcohol, Jensen said.
"I know people said that was a bit of an issue with us but it's not," he said.
Add Your Comment
