Wal-Mart files plan to build on former Winn-Dixie site

Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has filed a site plan with the city of Sarasota to develop a Walmart Neighborhood Market on the site of a closed North Tamiami Trail Winn-Dixie. The retailer has suggested it would demolish the 39,961-square-foot shuttered grocery at 3500 N. Tamiami Trail and parking lot to create a 33,803-square-foot neighborhood market and 135 parking spaces.

Walmart Neighborhood Markets only carry groceries.

“Most of the people are pretty excited,” says former Sarasota Commissioner Dick Clapp, who lives in the Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores neighborhood. “A new grocery store would be great.”