The recently opened Super Walmart has breathed new life into west Waynesville, sparking a process of revitalization as other businesses flock to the once-deserted part of town.

Gone are the days when the specter of the closed Dayco rubber factory loomed and the area struggled with an identity crisis after losing its biggest landmark and employer. Now the former factory site is poised to welcome a second anchor store — Best Buy, opening spring of 2009.

The out parcels are filling up quickly. Verizon Wireless was the first to put its name to one. Sally’s Beauty Supply and Citi Financial are slated to occupy spaces in the near future, confirms Mark Clasby, Haywood County’s Economic Development Director. GameStop, though not confirmed, may also take up residence. Home Depot was forced to put its plans on hold due to economic struggles, but is slated to come on board in early 2010.

Growth is also happening near the Walmart plaza. An-Ton Chevrolet Pontiac Buick, formerly in Canton, has merged the majority of its operations right across U.S. 74 with Anderson Chevrolet Buick, forming one of the largest dealerships in the county. Less than a mile away, a new 160-unit condominium project targeted as housing for those of moderate means is under construction.

Small business owners are so happy with the surge of people into west Waynesville that they’re almost welcoming the new competition.

“We’ve been sitting down here with a closed plant and an empty field,” said Randy Tomkins, owner of Waynesville Bait and Tackle across the street from Super Walmart. “This will totally change this end of town.”

“The way they did the shopping center, it looks really good. It’s helped the whole end of town,” agreed Kenny Mull, whose family has owned Bob’s Sports Store across from Walmart for 37 years.

Both Tomkins and Mull are seeing a new customer base as a result of the Walmart — people from the eastern end of the county.

“It gives them a reason to come to this end of town,” Mull said. “Before, you didn’t have many reasons to come here. Most people knew beforehand what they were looking for. Now we get people coming in and just looking around.”

The town of Waynesville had high hopes for the impact of Super Walmart, projecting that 20,000 cars a day would traverse South Main Street. Land prices shot up as expectations mounted — a parcel across from the Walmart plaza, appraised at $570,000, was put on the market for $1.6 million.

The impact, though already significant, hasn’t yet hit quite that hard. DOT hasn’t taken an official traffic count since the Walmart opened, but Tomkins and Mull, along with residents situated close to the new store, say they haven’t experienced traffic jams.

Given the state of the economy, real change may happen over time, rather than instantaneously.

“I don’t look for it to really take off for a while — it will probably take 10 years,” said Tomkins.

Some think the town has some kinks to work out if it wants to attract more business to west Waynesville, namely modifying its stringent land-use plan. Roger Winge, who is the Realtor for the $1.6 million parcel across from Walmart, said the property had been under contract with Walgreens until mid-October. That’s when the drug store chain informed Winge they wouldn’t be entering the Waynesville market, mainly because of the town’s land-use ordinances.

“Walgreen’s passed on the site after it got all the way to their corporate headquarters,” Winge said. “They didn’t feel they should redesign their building, and they did not want to comply with the no parking in front.” The town of Waynesville’s land-use plan mandates that businesses place parking in back and pull buildings up to the street.

Winge fears that not addressing some concerns about the land-use plan may hinder further growth in the town.

“We’re kind of stagnant because of some of these regulations,” he said.