Indio reels in Walmart Super Center, focuses on retailers

Much of the city of Indio is a construction zone.

“At just about every major off-ramp in the city, there are projects ongoing,” said Mayor Michael Wilson.

Just off I-10 at Monroe and Avenue 42, you can see the walls of the soon-to-be Walmart Super Center. The retailer is set to open before Christmas.

The shopping center will also include a Circle K and gas station, sit-down restaurants and more.

Some new additions across the freeway include a Dollar General, which recently opened. At Jefferson St. and Indio Blvd., plans are in the works to expand on the 90-acre land around the new Arco ampm, including a hotel, McDonald’s, a joint replacement hospital, and residential housing.

Mayor Michael Wilson said the retail expansion is necessary because more than 70 percent of the city’s retail sales tax usually leaks to other Coachella Valley cities. The city council hopes its retail strategic plan will bring those dollars back to Indio.

“Walmart brings in about half a million to a million dollars a year in sales tax to a community which is significant,” said Wilson. “If we could just retain that sales tax, we could do a lot more things with public infrastructure, improvements on roads and streets.”

“I think it’s wonderful. It’s good for business. For Indio, it’s a great thing,” said George Bednarczyk, manager of AT Designs

“It’s going to produce great things in our city,” said Wilson.