The retail landscape along Riverhead’s busy commercial corridor is preparing for a massive structural upgrade. Under newly proposed plans presented to town officials, the existing Walmart at 1890 Old Country Road is slated for a total overhaul to transform the property into a fully integrated Supercenter—introducing a comprehensive, full-service supermarket directly into the current department store footprint.

The ambitious conversion will expand the building’s total physical size from 167,000 square feet to approximately 180,000 square feet. To achieve this, construction teams plan to build an addition over the space currently occupied by the outdoor garden center, while converting the store’s inactive automotive tire bay into interior retail space. Structurally, the redesign shifts the main entrance further east, making room for a dedicated grocery lobby on the eastern side of the complex. While the building’s facade will undergo a complete modernization, it is designed to retain its signature brickwork to blend seamlessly with the surrounding shopping plaza.

To accommodate the massive addition of fresh food offerings, the interior layout will be entirely reconfigured. The brand-new grocery wing will feature a full bakery, a fresh deli, meat and seafood counters, and a sprawling fresh produce department. Because the updated layout incorporates prepared food prep stations, developers are working with local health officials to install advanced commercial grease traps, while coordinating with the county to evaluate potential traffic flow adjustments near the Route 58 corridor.

Beyond building modifications, the project focuses heavily on optimizing the surrounding property. Plans call for reconfiguring the layout of the parking lot to maximize spaces directly in front of the new grocery entrance. Because the shopping center operates within strict town density limits, the expansion will proceed through the strategic acquisition of additional local transfer of development rights (TDRs) to legally permit the increased floor space. Once finalized, the completed project will bring a comprehensive grocery alternative to the area, matching the convenient, single-stop model found at the brand’s nearby Yaphank location.

Riverhead Local:
🔗 https://riverheadlocal.com/2026/02/10/walmart-to-open-supercenter-at-its-current-riverhead-location/

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