Walmart has been looking to expand its Neighborhood Market concept, saying earlier this year that it was speeding up growth plans. The chain operates about 360 Neighborhood Market locations in the U.S.

The smaller stores, which first opened in 1998, typically are about 38,000 square feet and employ about 95 workers, the company said. That compares with a typical Supercenter at 182,000 square feet and 300 employees.

The region’s first Walmart Neighborhood Market should open in Chesterfield County later this year. The 41,900-square-foot store will be in the Meadowbrook Plaza shopping center on Hopkins Road.

Real estate and retail experts say Walmart is looking throughout the Richmond region looking for locations for its smaller Neighborhood Market concept.

The planned store in Henrico will be next to a Wawa convenience store and be built between Brook Road and West Seminary Avenue.

The site had been operated for years as a Travelodge motel, but is now called The Virginia Inn.

The 5.6-acre property is owned by Makan Investments in Manassas, which submitted the development plan documents to the county.