New Wal-Mart grocery to open on Kennedy

TAMPA -- Next week, LaToya Jackson will be one of 115 reporting to work at the newly opened Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market on Kennedy Boulevard.

Doors open Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Located at 1610 W. Kennedy Blvd., the store is a 60,000-square-foot building previously occupied by Winn-Dixie and SaveRite. Unlike the company's larger big box stores and supercenters, the neighborhood market is smaller and sells mostly groceries and pharmaceuticals with some general merchandise. It also incorporates a one-hour photo center and is scheduled to be open 24 hours.

Jackson, 22, said this will be her third job as a cashier but the first one she can walk to.

"It's a great opportunity to work for Wal-Mart and this one is so close to my home," she said.

--Robbyn Mitchell, Times staff writer