Business & Tech

Did Superman Promo Reveal Walmart's Tinley Park Plans?

Although there's no official confirmation, the retailer might be the new resident at 191st and Harlem Avenue, according to a Sun-Times Media report. But did the national chain tip its hand this summer with a "Man of Steel" movie ticket promotion?

The fate of the open land in the southwest corner of 191st Street and Harlem Avenue will be decided in the next few weeks, and national retailer Walmart could be building a new store there, according to a Sun-Times Media report.

Mayor Ed Zabrocki would not give details about the development but said Walmart was an interested party, the report stated. 

How interested? Maybe interested enough to jump the gun earlier this summer during a special promotion for an advance screening of Man of Steel.

READ: Check Out the Full Sun-Times Media Story for More Details

In May, Walmart offered customers a chance to pick up tickets at their local store for a special June screening of the Superman movie. But when some Tinley Park customers typed in their ZIP code to find the closest outlet, Walmart's website pulled up SuperCenter 4698, located at Harlem Avenue and 191st Street in Tinley Park.

At that time, Village Manager Scott Niehaus said no deal was in place between Walmart and Tinley Park, and he wasn't sure why Walmart's website had that listing.

A spokeswoman at Walmart said it was a glitch, and the Harlem-and-191st location should not have been listed on the promotion page (it no longer came up in the search after Patch informed the retailer). When asked if the chain had plans to build a new store at that location, the spokeswoman told Patch that Walmart is always looking for new places to expand its business but had nothing to announce at that time. 

Maybe Walmart has stopped looking and is ready to pull the trigger on a deal that could put a more than 200,000 square-foot development right across the street from Brookside Marketplace. 

YOUR TURN: What do you think about Walmart opening a store at the corner of Harlem Avenue and 191st Street? Share your thoughts in the comments section. 


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