RUTLAND, Vt. (WCAX) – Change is in the air in downtown Rutland. With Walmart set to move from the Rutland Plaza to the old Diamond Run Mall, officials are seeking input about what could fill the void.
The Rutland Plaza on Thursday was bustling with last-minute holiday shoppers like local resident Donna Lancour, who stopped in at Walmart. “Mostly stocking stuffers and dinner preps for next week, obviously,” Lancour said.
But this seasonal shopping trip will soon happen down the road in Rutland Town, where the big box store is planning on opening a Supercenter at the Diamond Run Mall.
Right now, demolition of the old mall is barely beginning. That gives city officials time to plan for what’s next.
“There’s all sorts of great draws with our local shops and local boutiques, but that is a space that draws people, and we want to see,” Doenges said.
With the departure of Walmart in 2027, it gives the city a little bit of time to find something to fill the space. The city wants to make the downtown area more accessible and more connected.
“That’s a huge space in our downtown. What are we doing to make sure it’s a community space and that people access it,” said Rutland Mayor Mike Doenges. “That plaza, back before it was a plaza, was a railyard. It’s always been an integral part. One thing it does is divide the neighborhoods up a little bit.”
The eventual decision is up to the plaza’s owners, but the city hopes to have its say. “If you know something else goes in its place, we want to make sure we’re thoughtful about it. That, I think, is really important — that downtown seems accessible,” Doenges said.
When asked what shoppers would like to see, one resident said, “Oh, a Macy’s! I get the real feeling that Rutland is on the verge of exploding.”
The downtown Walmart won’t move out until the Supercenter is completed, which local leaders expect in 2027.
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