Walmart Is Opening 5 General Stores, But They’re Not Where You Would Expect Them

Walmart (WMT) is opening a series of General Stores in a partnership with health and wellness hospitality company, Getaway, which will place the micro-stores at its nature destinations.

Walmart is Getaway’s first official retailer for the venture, which is designed to make traveling easier and more convenient for travelers.

The “mini-retail experience” from Walmart will include seasonal products that are sourced from the retail giant and curated by “outdoor experts” at Getaway.

Items found at the General Stores will include hiking gear, leisure equipment such as FujiFilm cameras, Lodge cast iron skillets, Pendleton outdoor blankets, and Burt’s Bees lip balms, among other merchandise. In addition, other small businesses will contribute local products to the stores.

The idea behind the General Stores is to allow guests at Getaway Outposts - nature sites located less than two hours from a major city - to stay on the property during their travels without having to leave to pick up anything they may have forgotten for their trip.

“In partnering with Walmart, we are able to amplify our efforts to a larger audience and provide our guests with more free time, helping them prepare for their stays and enjoy the comforts of nature once they arrive,” Carlos Becil, chief experience officer at Getaway, said in a statement.

The General Store by Walmart locations will open at select Getaway Outposts to start, including the first location at Getaway Hill Country in Wimberly, Texas, slated for an August opening.

Additional store locations will open through the year at Machimoodus in Moodus, Connecticut; Getaway Big Bear in Running Springs, California; Getaway Western Catskills in Roscoe, New York; and Getaway Ozark Highlands in Osceola, Missouri.

All items on sale at The General Store by Walmart will also be available for purchase on Walmart.com through a dedicated Getaway shopping page. Getaway is also offering all Outpost guests throughout the next year free memberships to Walmart+ - Walmart’s subscription membership that offers a variety of perks to customers, including free grocery delivery, gas discounts, and free shipping with no minimum purchase on Walmart.com.

Getaway plans to have 28 Outpost locations in place by the end of 2022, with 19 locations currently located outside of Atlanta; Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Boston, Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Chicago; Cleveland; Pittsburgh; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; New York, Portland, Oregon; Seattle; and Washington, D.C.

Getaway said it currently averages above an 84% occupancy rate at its 784 cabins throughout the year.

As of Thursday at 12:36 p.m. ET, shares of Walmart were trading at $130.04, up $3.45 or 2.73%.