New Walmart opens in southeast Ocala

Walmart plans to revitalize an old shopping center in southeast Ocala with a new grocery store, a gas station and two additional outlots for other potential stores.

A new Walmart Neighborhood Market will take over a former Winn-Dixie location that closed nearly a decade ago in the old Cedar Shores Shopping Plaza, which has since become Saddleback Square Shopping Center.

Earlier this week, representatives of WRS, Inc., a real estate development and investment firm, confirmed that the organization had entered into a leasehold agreement with Walmart for the space at 3535 Maricamp Road in Ocala.

Site plans for the development are currently being reviewed by city staff.

According to a city memo, the new complex will include a grocery store, a self-service gas station and two additional outdoor lots.

On Monday, August 12, representatives of Walmart Stores East LP will present a request to the Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission to rezone a small portion of the development where the gas station will be located.

Regardless of the PZC’s recommendation, the motion will be presented to the Ocala City Council at its first meeting next month (September 3).

The Walmart Neighborhood Market is one of several new additions to the area.

Late last year, 7-Eleven opened a new branch near the intersection of Maricamp Road and SE 25th Avenue.

Shortly before, OLA Drive-Thru Coffee opened its second location in Ocala on Maricamp Road, north of the Saddleback Square Shopping Center.

Opposite the planned Walmart, Zoom Car Wash plans to build its first store in Ocala.

In 2021, Starbucks opened a new location in one of the outdoor areas at Saddleback Square.

In 2020, Wawa also opened a location along the street.