Golden Corral, Walmart coming to Downey
Mayor Pro Tem Alex Saab and city manager Gilbert Livas at Wednesday's town hall meeting, held at the Columbia Memorial Space Center. Photo by John Zander
DOWNEY -- Golden Corral will open a buffet restaurant at the southeast intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Gallatin Road, formerly the site of a Ford dealership, Mayor Pro Tem Alex Saab confirmed Wednesday.
Saab made the announcement during a town hall meeting held at the Columbia Memorial Space Center.
Golden Corral is expected to open at a development called The Commons at Gallatin Road, an 18,000 sq. ft. development that is also expected to include three other smaller restaurants.
Golden Corral recently began an aggressive expansion into California, and last year opened in Bellflower.
The mayor pro tem also confirmed what was perhaps Downey's worst-kept secret: that Walmart will be the anchor store at The Promenade shopping center.
City Manager Gilbert Livas said Downey tried to secure other big box retailers but, with Target, Costco and Lowe's already in neighboring cities, their options were limited.
Residents have been vocal in their displeasure with Walmart, which closed its Pico Rivera store earlier this year due to unspecified "plumbing issues." Hundreds of workers lost their jobs.