Crowded K.C. braces for hypermarket - Wal-Mart's Hypermart USA to open in Kansas City; effect on discount store chains - Regional Analysis: West North Central

Discount Store News, May 8, 1989

Frederick Hron, editor of Corporate Report, Kansas City's monthly business magazine, said, "The area saw a lot of retail growth in the early- to mid-1980s. In the mid-'80s a lot of discounters came in--Wal-Mart, catalog showrooms, Walton's Wholesale Club [not called Sam's here because there's a local chain of discount stores based here called Sam's Discount Stores]. A new strip center was going up somewhere every time you turned your head."

Hron said that now most people think the city is overstored. He said the only real activity, in terms of new retail stores going up, has been among "niche retailers" in paper goods, business supplies, home electronics and others. He said, however, that a new Wal-Mart store--not the hypermarket--is currently being built.

Hron said that the only major complex going up now is Benjamin Plaza, the strip mall and office complex being built opposite Bannister Mall.

"The big Wal-Mart hypermarket is going in there, and I think a Toys "R" Us," said Hron.

He added that "everyone around here is aware that Wal-Mart has the reputation of knowing what it's doing, so everybody's really interested to see what's going to happen."

PHOTO : Kansas City, Mo., ranked 25th in population and retail sales and 29th in per capita income.

PHOTO : Gibson's, with one unit in Kansas City, has the unenviable task of competing against giants K mart and Wal-Mart in an overstored market.

Table : Discount Store Count: Kansas City