Sam’s Club affiliate buys land in Manatee for $15M

Through an affiliate, warehouse club giant Sam’s Club Inc. has purchased property in Manatee County.

Sam’s East Inc., an Arkansas company, bought the land on Moccasin Wallow Road in May for $15 million from Palmetto-based McClure Properties, according to Manatee County deed records. The property consists of nearly 26.57 acres, the deed says.

The seller, McClure Properties, shares an address with West Coast Tomato, a Manatee County tomato-growing company run by the McClure family. McClure Properties already received administrative approval for the property at 5670 Moccasin Wallow Road to have a big-box retail store and gas station with accompanying parking field and loading zone, according to county development records. 

The buyer of the Moccasin Wallow Road property, Sam’s East Inc., has Sam’s Club President and CEO Latriece Watkins listed as its president and CEO, according to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations.

Sam’s Club is a membership warehouse club with more than 600 locations across the United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal year 2024, Sam’s Club posted $90.2 billion in revenue. The company is a subsidiary of Walmart.

There are 46 Sam’s Club locations in Florida. The closest one to the newly purchased site is at 5300 30th St. E. in Bradenton, which is more than 15 miles away