Mini-Walmarts On Tap For Downtown Brooklyn? Not So Fast, Retailer Says

According to a report today in The Brooklyn Paper, Walmart may be looking to open scaled-down versions of its traditional big box superstores throughout the borough.

Possible locations named in the report include Gold Street at Tillary Street and Duffield Street between Willoughby Street and Fulton Mall in Downtown Brooklyn.

The stores would be "about five times the size of a 7-11, yet half the size of a Pathmark," according to the story.

Community Board 2 district manager Robert Ferris confirmed that both locations have the requisite commercial zoning in place to house a retailer roughly the size of a mini-Walmart.

However, Ferris expressed doubt that the low-cost giant would "float a trial balloon" for the scaled-down stores in the press.

"They are not going to show that card until they're ready," he said. "They are going to meet with elected officials and try to nail down as much support as possible before going public."

A spokesman for Walmart, Steve Restivo, denied that the company was looking at the properties listed in The Brooklyn Paper's report as potential locations.

According to Restivo, the scaled-down store model, called "Walmart Express," was in the experimental phase with just 15 stores in Northeast Arkansas, North Carolina and the city of Chicago on tap for this year.

"We're not sure how the reporter came up with the list," Restivo said. "We think he just took a look at the available properties for the store size we're looking for and went with it."

Speculation regarding Walmart's arrival in Brooklyn came as another highly anticipated retail opening inched closer to becoming a reality.

Red Apple Supermarket, located at The Andrea Building on Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene, is expected to debut sometime next month .