Harps To Obtain Nine Former Walmart Store Locations

Harps Food Stores Inc., plans to acquire nine former Walmart Express stores, including the closed Walmart store in Prairie Grove, according to a news release from the company last week.

J. Max Van Hoose, vice president of store planning, said Harps did not have plans to reopen the former Prairie Grove Walmart Express location.

“Given that we just remodeled our current facility, we probably will not re- open that store (Walmart Express),” Van Hoose said last week. “We will continue operating our current facility.”

The company has completed a $1 million remodeling project at its Prairie Grove store on Buchanan Drive. The 35-year-old building has

new checkouts with moving belts, new refrigeration and frozen food cases and a new decorative package for the interior and exterior of the store. The deli/ bakery also was remodeled and has all new equipment and a new-style hot bar.

Van Hoose said details on what Harps would do with the Prairie Grove building would be finalized after acquisitions are complete later this month.

In a news release issued June 8, Harps said it was purchasing six former Walmart Express stores in Arkansas and three in Missouri. In addition to the Prairie Grove building, Harps also is acquiring closed stores in Gravette, Gentry, Cedarville, Mansfield and Charleston. Specific information on store reopenings will be announced at a later date.

Walmart announced in January that it would close 269 stores, including 10 stores in Arkansas. The Prairie Grove Walmart Express store closed Jan. 28.