Wal-Mart Getting Ready To Open
By the end of the month or possibly the first week in July, U.S. retail giant, Wal-Mart Stores, will open its doors to the first of two stores planned in Costa Rica.

The first, which has been under construction since late last year, if getting the final touches is located in Escazu, across from the Treos Montealegre plaza (west of San José) and the second coming later this year, in Cartago province, east of the capital.

The total investment by Wal Mart in the two stores is us$30 million dollars.

The superstores, which will be operated under the Wal Mart name, will create some 1,000 direct and indirect jobs, the company said.

Wal Mart already operates the Hipermas superstores, as well as a chain of supermarkets under the names Mas X Menos, Palí and Maxibodegas with 144 locations across the country.

In addition to groceries, the supercentres will offer technology and entertainment products, take-out food, baby items and auto services, such as tires and oil changes and be principal rival to Price Smart.

The Escazu store comprises 29,513 sq. meters (317,258 sq. feet) of space.