7 tenants picked for Wal-Mart project

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

A barbershop and six food and beverage retailers, including three local restaurants, have been selected to be part of the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club superblock project on Ke'eaumoku Street.

Wal-Mart said it has signed leases with Filipino eatery Golden Coin Bake Shop & Restaurant, L&L Drive-Inn and Hanazen, a Japanese fast-food stop created by the owner of

Hatsuhana sushi restaurant at Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Cold Stone Creamery and Supercuts also will be attached to the double-decker big-box stores tentatively scheduled to open this fall.

The seven tenants were among about 50 retail, restaurant and service applicants that hoped to piggyback off the world's largest retailer and its members-only discount cousin.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Cynthia Lin said the company made an effort to include local restaurants to fulfill its mission to be a store of the community and satisfy customer tastes.

"It is very important to us that this tenant mix reflect the local flavors of Hawai'i," she said. "We wanted to have a local favorite in the store."

Wal-Mart typically has restaurants inside its stores, including its own brand, Radio Grill, McDonald's and others.

At the Ke'eaumoku store, Wal-Mart selected L&L to be just inside the entrance.

The ubiquitous plate-lunch eatery expects sales will be second best out of more than 70 L&L locations, behind the 24-hour L&L at the Airport Trade Center.

Lin said the Ke'eaumoku Wal-Mart is not expected to be open 24 hours, although an operating schedule has not been officially set. Sam's Club will not be open 24 hours.

The six other tenants will be outside Wal-Mart along Ke'eaumoku.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.