Wal-Mart Breaks Ground in Azusa Ave. Corridor

After more than a decade of planning, Covina officials and Wal-Mart executives broke ground Friday for a Wal-Mart store that will anchor development along the Azusa Avenue commercial corridor.

The 135,000-square-foot facility is expected to draw other businesses to the Azusa and Arrow Highway shopping area, Covina Vice Mayor Kevin Stapleton said. .

The store is set to open in October on the west side of Azusa Avenue between Grondahl Drive and the Dalton Flood Control Wash. It is the second phase of a 17-acre project that includes a new Toys R Us and a 30-screen movie theater set to open in December.

The city began planning the 17-acre project in 1986 when it acquired part of the land, Herron said. Two years ago it purchased the rest of the site after Wal-Mart agreed to open there, he said.

Some residents expressed outrage over the city’s purchase of the additional land for the project. Covina bought the land and then resold it to Wal-Mart for $3 million less than the city paid. City officials said they will recoup the money through property taxes.