Walmart Seeks State Approval for 48,000-Square-Foot Expansion in Toms River
The proposed addition is a massive 48,082 square feet that would transform the spot into a supercenter after sitting at the same site for 30 years.
Walmart filed paperwork to grow its Toms River store. The proposed addition is a massive 48,082 square feet that would transform the spot into a supercenter after sitting at the same site for 30 years. The application landed on the desk of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for the project at 950 Route 37.
The build-out bumps up square footage by one-third. Other upgrades are in the works too.
"With the potential to expand our existing Toms River store into a supercenter, we are excited about the opportunity to bring expanded offerings and new career opportunities to the community," a spokesperson said, according to NJ.com.
This week, the retail chain announced plans to redo 12 stores across New Jersey. Pharmacies will get fresh looks. Vision centers will see changes. Interactive product setups will pop up throughout.
For three decades, this Ocean County spot ran as a standard store. Supercenters pack in more products and services than their smaller cousins.
State environmental officials must greenlight the permit before any construction starts. When might they decide? Nobody's saying.
The extra space makes room for what supercenters do best — full grocery aisles, bigger pharmacy operations, and dedicated vision centers that standard stores can't squeeze in.
Jobs will come with the expansion, according to the spokesperson. How many positions might open up at Route 37? The company hasn't disclosed that figure yet.
This push comes as the retailer tackles several renovation projects statewide. Those dozen stores getting makeovers will see pharmacy and vision service improvements, plus new interactive displays that let shoppers engage with merchandise.
Among New Jersey projects, the Toms River expansion stands out. Nearly 50,000 square feet doesn't happen every day — it ranks as one of the bigger store upgrades the region has seen.
Environmental regulators at the state level will comb through the application. No permit means no construction, so the review process matters.
