10 Unusual Walmart Stores That Look Nothing Like You Expect
Walmart is known for its familiar big-box stores across the United States, but its global footprint tells a much more varied story. As the world's largest retailer, Walmart operates thousands of locations worldwide, and many of them look very different from the standard suburban layout most shoppers expect.
In this slideshow, we explore some of the most unusual Walmart stores around the world, from multi-level urban locations to stores designed to match local architecture and culture. These locations highlight how the company adapts its approach in different regions, offering a glimpse into how one of the world's biggest retailers evolves to meet local needs.
Walmart Tepeyac
As this store is located in a very urban environment in one of the largest cities in the world, you know its designers are looking to maximize square footage. As a result, this three-story location includes plenty of shopping space and rooftop parking. This location is also recognized as the largest in Mexico and Latin America, with 24 hours a day operating, 20 separate self-checkout stations, and 30 staffed registers manned around the clock.
Updated Logo
As Walmart recently revealed a new, thicker logo, there is a definite belief this logo transition will come to its stores. This is already happening in Pineville, Missouri, which is notable for being a test case for future Walmart location changes. Instead of the traditional Walmart logo on the outside, you have the "spark" logo and a refreshed interior that make it easy for customers to get in and out of the store quickly.
Beautiful Entrance
If you're looking for a Walmart with the most spectacular entrance, it's in Victoria, Canada. This "Uptown" location has a water fountain near the entrance and outdoor places to eat. This is mainly related to the shopping center itself, but as the Walmart entrance is mere feet away, it gets all of the beauty of this shopping center to itself as the anchor store for this mall.
Million Square Feet
Four times larger than the largest Walmart location in the United States, it's hard to imagine a million-square-foot location. However, the Zhuhai, China location is more than 1.2 million square feet after opening in 2016. About eight times larger than the average Costco, this store is technologically advanced with the company's scan-and-go technology. This tech allows Chinese shoppers to use a smartphone app to check out from their mobile device to cut down on lines.
Moving Escalators
A two-story Walmart located in Shanghai, China, is praised for its immersion into Chinese culture. In addition to having a two-story design with moving cart escalators, the centerpiece of this store is its live fish tanks, with which you can purchase full-service seafood products. As this isn't something you can find in America, it's a definite move as part of Walmart's deep integration into China's culture as one of its flagship locations.
Digital Displays Everywhere
Another flagship location for Walmart in China, this Shenzhen location is highlighted by its unique placement of interactive digital displays. As Walmart looks to ingrain itself into Chinese culture, this store is a testament to Walmart's showing off its technological strengths in retail. These displays allow customers to scan and go while shopping in the store, which leads to a faster checkout process.
Available By Boat
If you ever want to visit the most remote Walmart location in the United States, book a trip to Kodiak, Alaska. Serving Kodiak's 5,300 residents and neighbors from surrounding areas like Womens Bay, Chiniak, and Ouzinkie, Walmart has to ship everything to this location by container ship. Of course, considering almost 90% of Kodiak Island is designated brown bear territory, visiting the local Walmart is probably much safer.
Thousands of Customers Daily
If you're looking for the ultimate Walmart experience and to see why this company is the most impressive retailer in the world, come to Doral, Florida. With over 15,000 customers daily, the Doral, Miami location had to expand by over 100,000 square feet in 2012 after opening in 1994 and earning the title of the busiest Walmart location in the United States.
The Two-Story Giant
One of only a handful of Walmart Supercenters with two stories (with an escalator!), this Albany, New York location is widely considered the largest supercenter in the nation. Measuring a massive 260,000 square feet, the store is also surprisingly praised for feeling "calm" at all hours, as shoppers are not rushed or busy trying to buy electronics, baby items, groceries, toys, and more. The history of the second story is that one story was a Sam's Club above the Walmart before the two stories were combined.
The "Best" Walmart
If you're looking for the absolute "best" Walmart on the planet, it's in Monument, Colorado. According to a survey of 5,000 Walmart managers and store associates who attended the company's most recent "Year Beginning Meeting," it's the top choice. Most importantly, this ranking isn't based on profitability but on various criteria, including community engagement and customer feedback. This is the store's second year in a row winning this award.
