Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s second Neighborhood Market in Colorado Springs opens on South Academy Boulevard, giving a boost to a corridor that city officials have identified as a troubled area. The nearly 41,000-square-foot store was constructed near South Academy and Chelton Road, on the city's south side. It will employ about 90 full- and part-time workers and be open 24 hours a day.

Wal-Mart's Neighborhood Markets are essentially grocery stores that feature full lines of frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fruits and vegetables, prepared foods, health and beauty products, pharmacy items, paper goods and pet products, among other items. The stores don't carry clothing, electronics or other items found in the retailer's much larger Supercenters. Wal-Mart officials previously have said that Neighborhood Markets are intended to provide convenience for customers who might need a gallon of milk or other items, but don't want to travel to a Supercenter. Neighborhood Markets were launched in 1998; with the opening of the South Academy location, there now are nearly 200 nationwide.

The first Neighborhood Market in the Springs opened in August, at the site of a vacant King Soopers store northeast of Platte Avenue and Murray Boulevard. Another Neighborhood Market is being built at Union Boulevard and Lelaray Drive in the center of town. Wal-Mart officials also have said they plan to remodel a former Albertsons near Academy Boulevard and Austin Bluffs Parkway into a Neighborhood Market.