Walmart plans grocery pickup in Rogers

ROGERS -- Shoppers will soon be able to order groceries online and pick up the order at a Walmart Supercenter in town, according to company officials.

Erica Jones, Walmart spokesman, said the store will be the second location in Northwest Arkansas to have the service.

The Rogers Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a waiver for Walmart to build a grocery pickup at the store at 4208 Pleasant Crossing Blvd.

Plans provided to the city show two kiosks with overhangs and a loading area connected to the side of the store. The loading area consists of parking spots with a metal canopy.

A free-standing grocery pickup facility opened last year in Bentonville. The company didn't give a date for when the Rogers pickup will open.

Jones said the company has five test markets for grocery pickups in the country. Those locations include Denver, Phoenix, San Jose, Calif., and Huntsville, Ala.

"Our customers value the option of free pickup for online orders in our store today," Jones said. "This (Rogers location) gives us the option to test additional features."

Wal-Mart needed the waiver because the kiosk and parking overhang will sit on a utility easement, said Derrel Smith, Rogers senior planner.

Earl Rausch, city Water Utilities manager, said a sewer line is beneath the pickup area. Walmart is allowed to use the land as long as the company assumes all risks associated, he said.

Rausch said there's a small possibility something could happen requiring the water and sewer provider to dig up the line. This could damage or destroy some of Walmart's property above the line, he said.

Digging is typically not needed to fix or check on sewer lines, Rausch said. Employees are able to get to the lines through manholes in other locations, he said.

NW News on 07/25/2015

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