OCMetro

updated 09/04/2012 2:15PM Walmart to open a second supercenter in Orange County Walmart, the Arkansas-based retail giant, will open a second “supercenter” later this year in the city of Irvine. Once it’s completed, Orange County will be home to 20 Walmart stores.

The 120,000-square-foot retail center will be located at the Irvine Home Center, on Technology Drive off of Von Karmen, according to the OC Register.

Last month, the discount retailer opened its second Southern California Walmart Neighborhood Market – not the massive centers normally associated with the retailer – in Rancho Santa Margarita. The 32,000-square-foot market has a smaller, more community-oriented design and offers fresh groceries, organic produce, household and beauty items, a deli, bakery, pharmacy and a one-hour photo system.

In addition to selling a variety of low-priced home goods, the new Walmart supercenters will furnish a pharmacy and carry a full line of groceries. Each locale will employ about 300 workers.

Irvine city councilman Jeff Lalloway said, "I am proud to welcome the Walmart stores to our city. The locations of the new Walmart stores in Irvine will allow our residents to shop for affordable [goods] and fresh food. Our citizens will gain quality jobs with good benefits; our overall community will enjoy having Walmart invest in our local nonprofit organizations."

Other Walmarts still to be constructed in Orange County will be in Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Anaheim and La Habra.

Target, which operates some 30 stores in the county, added basic groceries to most of its stores in the region.

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