Wal-Mart Postpones Store Opening in Md.

Wal-Mart postponed today's anticipated opening of its first store inside the Capital Beltway because of last-minute permit problems, the company said yesterday.

Wal-Mart spokesman Steven Restivo said the Prince George's store, in Landover Hills in the former Capital Plaza Mall, was awaiting approval yesterday of paperwork it submitted for a use-and-occupancy permit. Those permits are issued by the county's Department of Environmental Resources. The store also lacks a capacity permit, which is handled by the fire department.

The store was scheduled to open this morning, complete with a ribbon-cutting and news conference to be attended by high-level executives from Wal-Mart and several local officials. A new date has not been set.

"With the continued support of all of the county agencies, we are diligently working to finalize the necessary requirements and approvals to open as soon as we can," Restivo said. "We look forward to serving the community very soon."

The store is strategically important to Wal-Mart, which is seeking to open more locations in urban areas to boost sluggish sales and woo new shoppers. But labor groups have vehemently opposed those moves, criticizing the nation's largest retailer for its health benefits and wages and saying it runs mom-and-pop shops out of business. Wal-Mart stores are not unionized.

A bright yellow banner that read "Coming Soon!" hung outside the Landover Hills store yesterday morning. Folding chairs and a makeshift stage had been set up inside for the expected news conference today. Several people peered through the store windows, only to find that it was not yet open, then drove away.

Although Wal-Mart called off its grand opening, labor, community and religious groups -- including the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, the Metropolitan Washington Council of the AFL-CIO and Rushern Baker, a former county executive candidate -- plan to forge ahead with a protest near the store this morning over the retailer's health benefits. They also disagree with Wal-Mart on port security legislation.