Wal-Mart Set to Open Marketside Stores in Phoenix

Phoenix Wal-Mart Stores plans to open four of its "Marketside" small-scale grocery stores in the Phoenix area on Oct. 4, according to a Reuters report.

The openings come less than a year after Britain's Tesco entered the Southwest United States with a similar concept called Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets. There are currently 78 Fresh & Easy stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.

Wal-Mart’s new Marketside units are on former drug store properties in growing suburban areas around Phoenix.

The name Wal-Mart will not be found on these new stores, an intentional move by the retailer, according to Reuters. While Wal-Mart officials remain fairly mum about plans for the convenience-sized stores, last month the company reported that the markets are a pilot test and there are no further firm plans to expand, the report said.