The rumors of a proposed Wal-Mart Super Center being built in place of the current Wal-Mart are typical of growth in Rexburg, which is expected to be more than halve the size of Idaho Falls over the next 10 years, Winston Dyer, chairman of the City of Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commission, said.
“[Rexburg] has a stellar future,” Dyer said. Wal-Mart officials have been seen looking at areas surrounding their current store on 2nd East Street in hopes of gaining more land to build a Super Center, Dyer said.
The idea of a Wal-Mart Super Center is symbolic of a welcomed growth here in Rexburg, Dyer said. Already, the city council has approved the construction of 5,000 lots in southwest Rexburg for additional housing.
This increase in housing is partly attributed to Ricks College becoming a four-year university. “As soon as [Brigham Young University-Idaho] was announced, the attendant population came, and continues to come, andWal-Mart has recognized the economic growth [in Rexburg] so you bet they’ll want a piece of the growing market here,” Dyer said.
Rexburg has a population of 17,200; Idaho Falls’ population is 50,700. In a recent comparison between the two cities, Rexburg seemed to almost have half the physical size of Idaho Falls and is expected to have more than half of Idaho Falls’ population over the next few years.
“[Rexburg] ought to become a regional shopping center just as Idaho Falls is. For years we’ve been going to Idaho Falls for our shopping, and now it’s our time. Wal-Mart is a regional shopping anchor and if your town has one, then your town becomes an economic regional anchor,” Dyer said.
Opponents of Wal-Mart seem to be less concerned with a Super Center than they are with an unwelcome growth in a small traditional town, Dyer said. “I’m fine with the store that we have now,” said Joseph Lair, City of Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commission member. “With a larger store we’re looking at more traffic going down a street that’s already overcrowded.”
The difference between the Rexburg store and Idaho Falls store is in the variety of merchandise available in each store department. The Idaho Falls Wal-Mart Super Center occupies 200,000 square feet, which is double the size of the store in Rexburg. The size difference alone facilitates a greater choice in each department and even a full-sized grocery center, Cavener said.
However, with all of the discussion about a Super Center being built, there still seems to be some confusion as to whether it will actually happen. “I have no idea. I have no information. I have not heard anything about a Super Center being built here,” Cavene said.
Rexburg has not received any official word about the rumored Super Center, Laird said.
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