Walmart Market Going Into Old Mervyn's Space In Woodland Mall

WOODLAND (CBS13) - Developers are looking to breathe new life into an old mall that has sat mostly idle for years, but not everyone is happy about the mall makeover.

The sound of new construction outside the County Fair Mall in Woodland is much different than sounds on the inside. That's because there aren't many. It's been slow here since 2009 when Mervyn's and a Target left.

A Walmart Neighborhood Market is filling up the old Mervyn's space, and that has mall workers optimistic. Martha Mondragon bakes pretzels in the mall and hopes a new Walmart will help bring the melancholy mall back to life with more people.

"I think that it will be very, very good for this mall," she said.

But some business owners here worry they won't cash in on customers because the Walmart will be closed off from the inside of the mall. There's already a wall that makes for an abrupt dead end at the old Mervyn's.

Even so, one mom walking the mall Monday said anything is worth a shot, especially if it will bring more than just extra mall business.

"More jobs for the city and for the community," Aleah Putnam said.

The Walmart store is set to open in May and will add 60-90 jobs.