Walmart to Replace Closed Midtown Sweetbay

Seven months after the Midtown Sweetbay closed its doors, Mayor Bill Foster and city officials confirmed the worst kept secret in St. Petersburg, Walmart will be taking its place. 

At a news conference Monday, Foster announced a Walmart Neighborhood Market would open in the Tangerine Plaza in early 2014. 

"I am very pleased to welcome the Walmart Neighborhood Market and am grateful for Walmart's commitment to St. Petersburg and Midtown," Foster said in a news release. "It has been a pleasure working with Walmart and their executives to ensure that Midtown has a full service, fresh grocery store that provides great value and service to their customers."

The opening is expected to create 95 jobs, a news release said.

Walmart will host a press conference with local officials on Oct. 7 to formally open a temporary hiring center located at 1201 22nd St. S., a news release said.  

"Urban Development Solutions Inc. would like to thank Walmart for partnering with us to keep a full service grocery in Midtown. We believe that the store will have great success for many years to come." said Urban Development Solutions President Larry Newsome in a news release. "We would also like to thank Sweetbay, first for operating their store for seven years in the Midtown community and also for their cooperation in helping us transition to Walmart."

According to Walmart, the majority of new employees will begin work in December to help prepare the store for its grand opening.

Sweetbay closed its doors in mid-February after months of pressure from city officials to not shut down the store. 

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• St. Pete, Mayor React to Sweetbay Closings