HENRICO, Va. (WTVR) – One area of Henrico that used to be gated is now beginning to boom with business.

Remember when the gates blocked off eastbound travel on Forest Avenue?

Times have changed. On Wednesday, the new 90,000 square foot Walmart on Forest Avenue opens, with a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Henrico Planning Commission voted unanimously in 2012 to move forward with a plan that was denied years earlier. A Walmart representative said they made several compromises, one being square-footage, which brings it in as the smallest store in the region.

A typical Walmart can exceed 200,000 square feet. For perspective this new one will be smaller than the Short Pump Kroger.

Regular store hours will be 6 a.m. to midnight daily, with the closing time being another compromise made by the retail giant.

In addition to this new development, CRBE also announced that construction will extend down to the corner. A new series of retail shops will be located at the corner of Glenside Avenue and Forest Avenue.

It will be known as The Shoppes at Reynolds Crossing. That is likely observed as Building A on the Reynolds Crossing Master Plan.

CBRE said that the proposed building is 70 percent full with retail leases that include Starbucks, Chiptole, Jersey Mike’s, Hair Cuttery, Ntelos Wireless, Lee Nails and Salad Works.

An opening is expected in the first quarter of 2015.

There are two buildings yet unmentioned by CRBE, building B and C. Their combined square footage is almost 43,000. These buildings are categorized as proposed retail.

Additionally a 40,000 square foot, two-story office building is under construction at Reynolds Crossing, along Broad Street.

It will be occupied by Sheltering Arms and First Tennessee Bank.

Maybe there is a reason that the planners have dubbed the area “Richmond’s New Midtown.”