Walmart Purchases 33 Acres Near Planned Costco in Southeast Tucson

TUCSON, ARIZONA (Updated July 30, 2026) — Walmart Inc. plans to build a new Supercenter of more than 170,000 square feet at Houghton Town Center in southeast Tucson, following its $6.99 million acquisition of approximately 33.23 acres of commercial land.

The retailer is currently pursuing the permits needed to develop and construct the project, with construction anticipated to begin during the first quarter of 2027. The site plan also provides additional land for potential future expansion.

The property, located at 10052 E. Old Vail Road near Walmart’s existing store at Houghton and Old Vail roads, consists of nine commercial parcels totaling approximately 1.45 million square feet. The sale closed July 2, 2026, at approximately $210,324 per acre, or $4.83 per square foot, according to public records.

Houghton Developers, LLC, an affiliate of Diamond Ventures, sold the property to Walmart Inc. The land is within PAD-36, the planned area development governing Houghton Town Center, and comprises a substantial portion of the center’s remaining undeveloped commercial land commonly associated with Houghton Town Center Phase 2, which totals approximately 68 acres.

Walmart’s existing location continues to perform well, and the new, larger Supercenter is intended to offer additional products and services to customers throughout the growing southeast Pima County trade area. The project reflects the substantial residential and commercial growth occurring along the Houghton Road corridor.

The existing Walmart store, which is owned by the retailer, will remain open until the new Supercenter launches. After Walmart vacates the current building, the space is expected to be repositioned and leased to two or three retailers.

The new Walmart development will also include a fuel center near East Old Vail Road.

Shannon Murphy with CBRE represented the seller in the transaction.

The Walmart acquisition is immediately east of a separate 22.35-acre site where Costco Wholesale is pursuing development approvals for a new warehouse and fuel facility at 9748 E. Old Vail Road.

City of Tucson records show Costco has submitted entitlement applications for an approximately 162,000-square-foot membership warehouse, fuel facility, surface parking and landscaping. The project would consolidate Blocks 4 through 8 of the Rita Ranch Commerce Center and is currently moving through the city’s review process.

The proximity of the two developments places more than 55 acres associated with two of the nation’s largest retailers along the same stretch of East Old Vail Road, just west of South Houghton Road.

The size of Walmart’s purchase makes the transaction particularly notable. Rather than acquiring a single retail pad, Walmart purchased nine parcels totaling more than 33 acres in one of southeast Tucson’s principal commercial growth areas, shortly after Costco began advancing its nearby plans.

The property is near the existing Walmart Supercenter and The Home Depot and benefits from continued residential and commercial expansion throughout southeast Tucson and Pima County.

Together, the Walmart and Costco projects signal a significant new wave of major retail investment at Houghton Town Center and along East Old Vail Road.

Real Estate Daily News will continue to follow both developments as they move through permitting, entitlement and construction.