Sam’s Club planning Jefferson City store

ABC 17 News has learned the world’s largest retailer is indicating it will bring a Sam’s Club to Jefferson City.

Officials said Walmart could open the warehouse club as early as 2015. City leaders believe the store would mean more than 100 new jobs and a boost to the local tax revenue.

Kirk Farmer of The Farmer Group told ABC 17 News that the store will likely be built on its property behind Menards and next to Dick’s Sporting Goods near Highways 179 and 50. Farmer said Walmart has been in talks with the company for awhile.

The new Sam’s Club is welcome news to both shoppers and city leaders.

“It’s huge for our city and huge for our community,” said mayor Eric Struemph.

The project has been kept under the radar, but planning and zoning paperwork is expected to be submitted in the next month.

Farmer said the official announcement of the store will come from Walmart corporate officials sometime after city approval.

City leaders said it is unlikely the council would reject the retailer.

“Anytime you get a major retailer like that in a city this size, I think it just makes us more of a regional retail hub,” said Struemph.

ABC 17 News has reached out to Walmart for comment but has not heard back.