Robertdale Walmart Catalyst for Growth

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• published: 01 Oct 2014
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ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (WPMI) The city of Robertsdale is projecting more than $1 million in sales tax revenue, the lion share from the new Walmart that's set to open Wednesday, September 24 and Walmart is projecting sales to be upwards of $11 million in the first year and the city plans to cash in. The paint IS not even dry and already a new Walmart in the center of Robertsdale along State Highway 59 is a sure fire bet for the city. "The real hey day with sales tax was back in 2007 when we did about $2.2 million and then the following year it dropped to about $1.5," said Robertsdale Mayor Charles Murphy. Now with Walmart opening in two weeks sales taxes in the general fund budget are expected to increase from $1.8 million in 2014 to $2.5 million in 2015. That hey day could be back. "Additional in sales tax revenue that does not all come from Walmart we have seen in the last three years our sales tax revenues have been ticking up," said Murphy. "I think it's going go be real good. It'll give us some competition to the stores over here and give us a variety we wont have to drive up the road to go to Walmart. I'm looking forward to it," said J.D. Prejean who lives in Robertsdale. This will be the sixth Walmart to open in Baldwin County. Other communities have fought Walmart but oddly enough here in Robertsdale, there was never an organized opposition effort. "If it opens up here it will bring more business into Robertsdale instead of sending all our business all the way down to Foley," said Lynn Blackman who also lives here. Lately there has been a lot of attention to new businesses in Foley. Robertsdale's mayor says time in on his side. "Basically Foley is going to grow north to Robertsdale and Robertsdale is going to grow north to Loxley and Loxley is going to grow north to the interstate," said Murphy. The mayor says land adjacent to the new Walmart sight is for sale. Some is already committed. "So there's a lot of potential for other retailers to come and we already know of a few that are already looking at the sight," said Murphy. The mayor says some of those retailers should be breaking ground by the end of the year.