A former Walmart store that has been vacant for six years in Longview, Texas, is getting new life as a Just Store It self-storage facility, expected to open at the end of July. The 86,000-square-foot, climate-controlled facility is owned by Brad Tidwell, Terry Cook, Ray McKown and Ronnie Walker, all Texas residents.
 
The interior demolition work is complete, and interior renovations are expected to start Monday. The 7-acre property and building renewal represent an investment of approximately $2 million. The purchase was handled locally through Walter Northcutt and Beer Wells Real Estate Services.
 
The building was home to a Walmart from 1981 until 2004, when the store relocated to Gilmer Road as a Walmart Supercenter. It has five spaces on the side that allow for loading and unloading out of the weather, Tidwell said. He and his partners will add a covered drop-off at the front of the building and loading docks at the rear.
 
Dana Deason, owner of the Deason Financial Group in Longview, acted as consultant on the self-storage project, which will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 will consist of 308 climate-controlled units and 50 indoor parking spots for boats, automobiles and recreational vehicles. Phase 2 will eventually add 300 more climate-controlled spaces, Deason said.
 
The Just Store It facility will be managed by Tidwell’s mother, Judy.
 
Tidwell is involved in additional East Texas projects with other business partners, including the recently completed Pine Place Apartments in Hallsville, and apartment and retail projects in Diana. Born and raised in Diana, he has worked as a banker for many years. In the past six years in Dallas, he has financed more than $100 million in real estate deals, and the Longview market is very strong, he said.
 
Source: Longview News-Journal, Ex-Walmart to get second life as storage facility

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