Walmart puts all rumors to rest in the U.S. and delivers the worst news to Costco

For months, rumors have circulated through the halls of the U.S. retail sector. Many analysts wondered what Walmart's next move would be, the giant that dominates the physical and digital market in the United States. However, nobody imagined that Walmart's strategy would be to keep betting on new physical stores in the United States.

Walmart has cleared up all doubts and has confirmed its ambitious expansion plan on U.S. soil. The company has announced the opening of five new stores before the end of September, adding up to a total of ten new locations before the end of the year. This sends a clear message to its competitors: Walmart's dominance is far from weakening, and the threat to Costco is more real than ever.

Walmart keeps betting on its physical stores in the United States

The CEO, John Furner, already made it clear at the beginning of the year in a press release: the company doesn't intend to stop. Walmart plans to build or transform more than 150 stores and renovate more than 650 locations in 47 different states. The strategy is clear: further consolidate its presence in the country.

This investment is joined by the total renovation plan for Sam’s Club, its wholesale chain. The 600 existing stores will be updated, and 30 new clubs will also open, with an average of 15 openings per year, according to USA Today. With this, Walmart not only strengthens itself as a general retailer, but also in the wholesale segment, where it competes directly with Costco.

Chris Nicholas, president of Sam’s Club, highlighted at the 2025 Investor Community Meeting that the physical model is an advantage in the omnichannel strategy. With a more modern and extended network, the company seeks to attract more customers, both in-store and online. This vision reinforces the idea that Walmart doesn't compete only on price, but also on accessibility and experience.

Walmart leaves Costco behind and opens new stores in key locations

Walmart has detailed that the upcoming openings will take place in very specific areas. The first will be in mid-June in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where a Walmart Neighborhood Market will open on Hwy 69. In July, the conversion of a location in Mountain View, California, on Showers Dr., will be completed, which will become a Walmart Supercenter.

During August, the opening of a new Walmart Supercenter is scheduled in Eagle Mountain, Utah, on North Spring Run Parkway. In addition, another Neighborhood Market will open in Milton, Florida, located on US-90. For September, one more store will be added in Pace, Florida, exactly on Berryhill Road.

If that weren't enough, a new Sam’s Club will also arrive in Tempe, Arizona, with its opening scheduled for early August. This location is part of the ambitious wholesale expansion plan that aims to bring its products closer to more consumers and compete more aggressively with the Costco chain.