Wal-Mart now has room for a Supercenter in Lawrence.

The world’s largest retailer, still mired in a court battle to build a store in northwest Lawrence, is 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.

And nothing’s standing in the way, other than the company’s selection of a general contractor.

“Apparently they’re concluding the bidding process,” said Tim Pinnick, inspections supervisor for the city of Lawrence, which is poised to approve the company’s application for a building permit. “Once I get that information, we’re ready. 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 that 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.

A land deal negotiated with Crown Chevrolet Toyota, which is next door to the Wal-Mart at 33rd and Iowa streets, will allow the retail giant to create a Supercenter.

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 even planned to open a small cafe in the new building, offering coffee and hot and cold meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner — to customers looking to buy or otherwise just stop by.

Schnaer expects the renovations and upgrades to the former Payless building to absorb at least $3.8 million. And that’s not including the landscaping, fountains, road changes and the project’s other related work, including renovations to the existing Chevrolet building.

Once it’s all done — Schnaer said he expects 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.

Wal-Mart files plans to add grocery (05-12-04) Wal-Mart considers S. Iowa expansion (11-15-03)

“I feel very good about this.”

Wal-Mart officials were unavailable for comment Tuesday, but their representatives and developers have been in contact with City Hall about the new project.

Others are working on another site in Lawrence: the northwest corner of Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive, where Wal-Mart has sought permission to build a store.

Lawsuits in that case are pending in Douglas County District Court.