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New Walmart opens in Land O' Lakes

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 4, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Nearly seven years after it was first proposed, a new Walmart Supercenter opened this morning near the apex of U.S. 41 and North Dale Mabry Highway.

Store officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m.

The opening marks the first successful Walmart opening in Pasco County since the company opened its Beacon Woods store last year.

At one point, Walmart had plans for four new stores across Pasco. Beacon Woods residents fought the company's proposed store at U.S. 19 and Beacon Woods Drive, but ultimately lost.

Holiday residents were more successful, beating back plans for a store at Grand Boulevard and State Road 54.

A third Walmart in Wesley Chapel failed to get off the ground after the collapse of the housing market cut the legs from under Pulte Home Corp.'s plans to develop thousands of acres in Wiregrass Ranch.

Plans for that store remain on the shelf for now, store officials have said.

The Land O' Lakes store took years to navigate the development process because company officials and county officials had to strike a deal with CSX for permission to cross its railroad line, which parallels U.S. 41 through Pasco.

Under the three-way deal, CSX agreed to a crossing and Pasco County delegated to Walmart the responsibility for maintaining it. An automatic gate closes when trains approach the crossing.

The new superstore replaces the aging Walmart store in nearby Village Lakes Shopping Center. That store closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 731-8168.

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