WAL-MART OPENS NEW CALIFORNIA SUPERCENTERS

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores here said it plans to open its third California supercenter this week -- its second California supercenter in two weeks.

rn California. The third is scheduled to open Wednesday in Hemet, 65 miles northwest of the La Quinta store.

The Stockton store covers 207,000 square feet, while the Hemet store will be the largest in the state at 224,000 square feet. The La Quinta store is 221,600 square feet. All three are replacements for existing Wal-Mart discount stores.

The company has said it plans to open up to 40 supercenters in the state within four to six years. A spokesman said there are no plans to open any more supercenters in California this year, though he declined to discuss the company's expansion plans for next year.