General Store coming down to make way for new Neighborhood Market

n Neighborhood Market expected to open in January.

DECATUR -- The question on every Decatur resident's mind for the past few months was, "When is the new Walmart going to open?"

That question was partially answered Sept. 8 when an excavator took the first bites out of the old Decatur General store on Main Street. Within a day, one quarter section at the south end of the building was torn down and removed from the site.

The demolition of the store is to make way for a new 15,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market, currently scheduled for opening in mid-January 2015.

Lloyd Peterson originally built the store to entice his friend, Sam Walton, to use it for a Walmart store. He used similar floor plans to that of the original Walmart stores that were in Northwest Arkansas at the time. But the idea never materialized.

With the growth of Decatur over the past few years, Walmart decided to use the location for its new concept Neighborhood Market. However, the building was outdated, and Walmart decided to remove it and build a new store in its replace.

The demolition and removal is expected to be complete by Sept. 19.

Soon Decatur residents will no longer have to travel to Gravette, Gentry, or Siloam Springs to pick up a steak or fresh tomatoes. They will be able to get these things and more right in their own hometown.