PORT ANGELES — The site of the old Kmart store could be home to a new Wal-Mart soon, according to the company that owns the mostly vacant shopping center on U.S. Highway 101 at Kolonels Way.
That’s news, however, to development directors for the city of Port Angeles and Clallam County.
Ryan Dunne, owner of Kent-based Summit Properties, which owns the Kmart property, called the deal “pretty possible.”
Wal-Mart, he said, “is seriously thinking about purchasing the shopping center.”
According to Dunne, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. would demolish the old Kmart building and build a new store, presumably closing its present store across U.S. Highway 101.
Septic system problems have plagued the Wal-Mart site, even after Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer installed a new $50,000 system last summer.
The present Wal-Mart store also is almost invisible to drivers on Highway 101.
“It would be a move up from where they are now,” Dunne said.
Feasibility study
It might take three months for the retail giant to complete a feasibility study of the Kmart location, Dunne said.
“Ultimately, it’s going to come down to whether Wal-Mart can do a deal with Port Angeles” to extend city sewers to the site that, like the present store, is served by a septic system.
Such a deal would thrill Mark Madsen, director of the city’s Economic and Community Development Department. He’s heard nothing but rumors, however.
“We have not been approached by Wal-Mart at this time,” Madsen said. “We would certainly welcome sitting down with them or their representatives.”
Wal-Mart community affairs spokesmen did not return telephone calls from the Peninsula Daily News.
