I'm so very glad to hear this. Walmart is a strong and secure company that will bring much needed stability to the Country Club Shopping Center. San Ramon is a clean, vibrant and high socioeconomic city and the people who will shop at the Walmart Grocery will reflect our community. Walmart sells quality products at very low prices so, anyone who wants to pay more is free to be gouged at Safeway, Lucky and Nob Hill. It's quite clear, one does "Liver Better and Pay Less" at Walmart. I think they'll be a wonderful fit for our shopping center. The next thing that would be nice to get in, would be either a Sonic or an In-and-Out. That would really generate revenue. Walmart will also force the other grocers to lower their prices as well so it's a no brainer. Everyone benefits. Enough said.

Would love to see a Trader Joe's in this location...

Fresh, organic and local.
Three words to which the products sold at a Wal-Mart 'Neighborhood Grocery' do not apply. I would rather see that place stay empty indefinitely than see something so base move into our neighborhood.

The Wal-Mart brand is not what I would consider a good fit for San Ramon. I agree with all of the comments, the Wal-Mart concept does not fit our community profile. Everyone wants a Trader Joe's market; there is a tremendous amount of support for a Trader Joe’s or a similar type of “neighborhood grocery store”. The residents I have spoken about this for many years but to no avail. This is an ideal location and a brand that would be well supported by all of the residents. I say no to Wal-Mart period!

It's time for people to quit living in a fantasy world that Trader Joe's or any other boutique grocery store is coming to the Country Club Center. The site is too large/expensive for "neighborhood" grocery stores. If not Walmart, we may be faced with a store like the previous tenant - La Asia Grocery - a dirty, smelly, rodent infested (per County health inspections), third rate store.

While I am in NO WAY a fan of Walmart, they would be a good anchor grocery store and will attract traffic to the center to support other stores. Otherwise, Country Club Center may meet the same fate as the the dilapidated center it replaced.

I say NO to Walmart.....that is not the type of store we need in San Ramon. I moved to San Ramon 32 years ago, I didn't move here to be close to a Walmart and I don't want one now.

The only good things about Wal-Mart coming to the center are the construction jobs to renovate the building. It will cost 4 million dollars to modify the building to current code standards. The bad thing about their move into our neighborhood is the fact that they bring Wal-Mart business practices. They pay cheap labor to sell cheap food and will make the whole shopping center a place for cheap people who have no sense of human worth or the value of a livable wage.

I do not think Wal-Mart will stay in the location long. If they do they will want to expand their space into a superstore size. The bigger issue is what this means about our city government. It was an open secret that Wal-Mart was trying to get a place along I-680 and was not going let anyone know until it was too late. It’s too bad that our city government was helping them by do keep their secret.

Maybe this will be the catalyses to get two more City Council members out of office so we can get our city back. I hope so.

I am disappointed in San Ramon for hiding this issue until now and denying that WalMart wanted to move into this center. I am opposed to many of WalMart's practices over the years and do NOT want this here. I live just 3 blocks from this center, but there are already many other choices grocery stores here within a short distance. WalMart tends to run off other competition and the last thing I want is for those stores to go out and be stuck with a WalMart store as my only choice!

I don't see WalMart as my "neighborhood market". No matter what sweet words they tag on it...it's still the same old WalMart practices. Don't be fooled!

I am so glad to see that everyone (except Mrs. Bee) who has commented is against this mega company getting their hands on a San Ramon property. Think about it . . . their appearance in this shopping center will drive CVS right out of the center. We will exchange one empty store for another. Apparently, we, the city, the leasing agent for the property have not worked hard enough to solicit other interest. Yes, we know we tried to get Trader Joe's in there and they weren't interested. That was 2 years ago. It's time to start another attempt. Go to the Trader Joe's web site and click on the "about us" tab. On the right side of page there is a section called "customer questions and feedback", click on the arrow and get the pull down menu and click on the "location requests", then click "show me the form" and fill it out and submit. Everyone who isn't willing to give up should do this and tell your neighbors to submit a request also. We are pushing hard to force the city to open this up to a town council meeting. Fresh and Easy is another store that would be great to get in. There are lots of other healthy alternatives. We need to step in and do what the city and leasing agent hasn't and that is make a bigger effort to get a tenant that is suitable for San Ramon. As far as getting more revenue - this will not be an increase in revenue, but a transfer of revenue. Lucky's, Safeway (Crow Canyon),Nob Hill will see their revenues go down and bottom line revenue will be a wash.

Good job on this story, Patrick!

This is really just a small piece of a big national story. Similar fights over WalMart are going on in Chicago, New York, and elsewhere.

You all are a bunch of non-progressive whiners. It's alright for stores like Walmart to exist, but not near or around any of you. I would bet everyone of you whiners have shopped at Walmart.

WalMart does not belong in this residential neighborhood. The fact that WalMart kept its intentions secret until it is almost a done deal shows that they know they are not welcome. Yes WalMart will bring jobs, but not jobs for local residents. It will bring labor, traffic and shoppers from outside our community - it will not serve the people who live here.

Ignorance is abound! While everyone certainly has the right post their opinion about this particular company, its entirely wrong to think that Walmart or the property owners owe you, the City or anyone else anything on this matter. There seems to be ever spreading message that Walmart or the City of San Ramon is doing something wrong. No one involved in this is doing anything wrong, they are doing what is within their rights.

The owner has the entitled right to lease to a grocery store, the grocery store is Walmart, enough said. City approvals do not have the right to dictate which specific, named tenants are allowed or not allowed, that is illegal!They can only place conditions of approval on the project which outline guidelines for use, design and other operational requirements such as operating hours. So long as Walmart complies with the original conditions of approval that were put in place when it was approved for Albertsons, then they are doing nothing wrong and do not need your approval or support to do it.

I think some of the folks on here should take the risk to go buy a commercial property, then limit your leasing opportunities to "perfect companies". When your building is sitting vacant and you have taxes, insurance and other expenses to pay with no income coming in, then see how you would stick to your plan.

Can someone post a link or more information on how to get involved in voicing our opinion to stop Walmart? I live a block from there and we have put blood, sweat and tears into saving our home from foreclosure in a down market. Honestly, this would dampen our passion to want to preserve the ownership of our home in San Ramon and would encourage us to walk away like many people have. I want to get involved to stop Wal Mart - how can I do so effectively?

I would rather see the empty space instead of Walmart. It spoils the living of this peaceful neighborhood. Would love to see Trader Joe in that place.

We have enough grocery stores near by we don't need Walmart. We are very concern about security. The house prices can go down easily. Hope city understands that.

Are you afraid that Walmart will bring jobs and force the other grocery giants to lower their prices? Are you afraid of paying less and having more jobs in our community? We already have corporate giants in our area and adding Walmart as one is not going to hurt our community but it will make it strong. I welcome them in to the neighborhood.

I have to agree that a Walmart seems out of place in San Ramon. How about Lunardi's, if not Trader Joe's?

I agree with a majority of the comments above. I am frustrated that the site has been empty for so long but was relieved when Le Asia closed. I am tired of South San Ramon being treated as a dumping ground for stores no one else wants or needs. Trader Joe's would be a good fit. Yes, the space is larger than their normal stores, however the Danville store recently expanded (if I am not mistaken) and the semi-newish Walnut Creek store is a good example of how TJ's, or the real estate company, took a large space (formerly a Lucky's I think) and subdivided it into a TJ's and another business. Not brain surgery and could be a good solution. If not TJ's, then another, true neighborhood market (Bristol Farms from down south, Fresh and Easy, etc.)

I don't have all the facts but it does seem that more can be done here to request a business, or businesses, that could revitalize Country Club Center and make it a destination vs an after thought. Would also like to know how we can effectively support a different direction with the city... so any posts regarding next steps would be appreciated. Will go to the TJs site now as suggested above.

San Ramon needs a Walmart. I also suggest a Hooters, check cashing business, and maybe a pawn shop.

I agree with some of the others. Big Business is here. Everyone is okay with the Greatland Target and Whole (Paycheck) foods but Wal-Mart is not okay?
The irony of the yearning for Trader Joe's is also amusing. They will not put a store there or anywhere in San Ramon because their business model is founded on being perceived as novelty. They have already saturated enough of the market around the Tri Valley; they are not going anywhere else in the foreseeable future. I would love to see the senior community supported with a reasonable yet convenient grocery store. Fresh and Easy would be my choice but I will take Wal-Mart if that's the only choice.

I am hearing a lot of stereotyping and bashing about Walmart, it's kinda cool to jump on the Walmart haters bandwagon, isn't it. I have to laugh at the snobbery when people will say they will shop a Target and not a Walmart. You speak as if a Walmart is beneath you. I have shopped many clean and well organized stores that provide entry level jobs for many people. They also have an excellent management program. If you want to be misled and believe the unions are good for you than keep your head in the sand. This is a huge company, but it's not an evil company. If you want to really care about jobs put your efforts to reform migrant worker's conditions and pay, get their children out of the fields. Fight for a fair tax , encourage our politicians to reform taxes so that those making above $250,000 pay their 30 per cent, regardless. This is personal income, so what if a rich dude has one less Bentley. As for me, I am smart enough to realize that Walmart has been a MAJOR player in keeping inflation down and food prices in check. Any economist will tell you this. Food for my family is getting more difficult to buy as gas prices squeeze our budget...thank goodness I can save about $50 a week shopping at Walmart. Kudos to councilmen who have their priorities clear. You don't want a Walmart, then don't shop their, make your. $50 charitable donation to Trader Joes each week, then ask yourself why the Kroger company left northern California.

Stereotyping? Ok doubters, go take a look at http://www.peopleofwalmart.com, there is no place for this in San Ramon. Be careful what you ask for, and in a year from now, come back and post how you love the Wal-Mart in our neighborhood!