WAL-MART, left, plans to expand its existing site by more than 120,000 square feet.

The world’s largest retailer, still mired in a court battle to build a store in northwest Lawrence, started February awaiting approval to expand its existing store at 33rd and Iowa streets.

The planned expansion would add more than 120,000 square feet for a grocery store and other uses, possibly a drive-through pharmacy and perhaps a fuel center.

The only hurdle left to climb: hiring a general contractor.

Tim Pinnick, inspections supervisor for the city, said the company had indicated that it had been conducting a bidding process before selecting a contractor

“Once I get that information, we’re ready,” he said. “We’ve done all the plans and revisions. We’re ready to go.”

Clearing the way for the project was a land deal negotiated with Crown Chevrolet Toyota, Wal-Mart’s next-door neighbor.

Under the deal, which closed at the end of December, Wal-Mart gets the building and parking lot currently occupied by Crown Toyota, 3330 Iowa.

In exchange, Crown gets most of the property formerly occupied by Payless Cashways Building Materials, 3434 Iowa. Wal-Mart bought the Payless site, then turned over about 8 of its 10 acres, plus cash, to Crown.

Miles Schnaer, owner of the Crown dealerships, said he needed to be out of the current Toyota property by June 20. Wal-Mart will use the property, plus much of the former Payless lumberyard out back, for the Wal-Mart expansion, new garden center and relocation of the store’s Community Recycling Center.

Crown will move its Toyota dealership into the 75,000-square-foot former Payless building, which also will accommodate 18 service bays, a used-car showroom and a body shop.

Schnaer said he also had plans for a small cafe in the new building, offering coffee and hot and cold meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner – to customers looking to buy a vehicle or otherwise just stop by.

Once it’s all done – Schnaer said he expected to conduct a grand opening in the fall – the dealerships will have room for twice as many cars.

“This is an investment in the future,” said Schnaer, who bought the Chevrolet and Toyota dealers in 1994. “There’s a lot of momentum in Lawrence. I’ve heard that there are 20,000 people going in south of the (Wakarusa) River. And I think there’ll be a lot more traffic once the South Lawrence Trafficway and the U.S. 59 expansion go in.

“I feel very good about this.”