Sam's nixes Whiskey Road site

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has abandoned its plans to build a Sam's Club warehouse store near the intersection of Whiskey and Powderhouse roads, but officials said they haven't given up on an Aiken location.

"We are no longer going after the existing location," said Tara Stewart, corporate spokesperson for Wal-Mart Inc. "We are looking for a new site, but we don't have one yet. We will have one soon, in about a month or so. Real estate deals take time."

Stewart said she did not know if the new location would be within the city limits or somewhere in the county.

"We will know when we get a site," Stewart said. "We have pulled out of the existing site, but we are definitely interested in Aiken. We are working to get a new site."

Aiken Mayor Fred Cavanaugh said he has not spoken with Sam's Club officials for six weeks or more but believes they may be looking at a couple of sites in the north, northwest or northeast part of town.

"I think they will eventually settle in Aiken, but these things take a long time sometimes," Cavanaugh said. "I asked them to look at the north and east because it is situated between Columbia and Augusta. They were not closed-minded at all. It would draw people from Johnston halfway to Columbia."

Cavanaugh said the announcement indicated to him that Sam's may be looking for a location somewhere on the Northside.

"This kind of confirms what we thought," Cavanaugh said. "We felt really warm about the relationship we had with Sam's Club. People are not against Sam's Club. They want a Sam's Club close by, but just not at that space. We hoped Sam's would look at the Northside."

He said Council would likely approve a Sam's Club if it is in what is agreed to be a good location.

The Aiken Planning Commission unanimously rejected the proposed concept plan for a Sam's Club on Whiskey Road near Powderhouse Road during its July 10 meeting.

If Sam's Club picks a new location in the City of Aiken, the plans will go before the Planning Commission once again.

Planning Commissioner Bill Reynolds said he felt Sam's Club was not a good fit for the original proposed location.

"It was in no way an indictment against Sam's Club," Reynolds said Tuesday. "I am personally a member of Sam's Club in Augusta and I was over there today. I really want them to come to town."

Reynolds said the original location had several things going against it, such as the location near the busy Whiskey-Powderhouse Road intersection and its proximity to residential areas.

Reynolds said he is glad Sam's Club is still looking at Aiken.

"I think the Northside or Westside would be a good location, in a place that is easily accessible without creating an impact on residential areas," Reynolds said.

Commissioner Roscoe Stanley said the location was the main problem he had with the original plans.

He said he would welcome a Sam's Club on the Northside.

"I'm about being as close to the interstate as possible because that is the route I think trucks would take to get to Sam's Club," Stanley said. "I am definitely for putting it on the Northside because of the congestion that exists on the Southside."

Stanley said a Sam's Club would bring people to Aiken from Monetta, Wagener and areas outside of the county.

"I don't see them having to negotiate traffic on Whiskey Road," Stanley said. "I just think it is unnecessary."

Stanley said he believes a perfect location for Sam's Club would be at the corner of the 118 Bypass and Highway 19.

During the July 10 Planning Commission debate over the original proposed location for Sam's Club, many residents expressed concern.

Ronny Bolton, real estate representative for the Whiskey Road-Powderhouse Road property did not return a phone message Tuesday.

Carole Carver lives near Whiskey and Powderhouse roads. She said she is glad Sam's Club is no longer looking to build there.

"We are very pleased, but we have still heard the possibility it is coming out this way near Chukker Creek," Carver said. "If they still put it out this way, that has to be addressed."

Carver said she is not opposed to Sam's Club, but just doesn't feel Whiskey Road would be a good place because of the traffic and impact on residential areas.

"I am a Sam's Club member, but I feel other locations are better suited," Carver said.