DEBARY — Hours-long meetings involving hundreds of residents revealed a community divided over a proposed Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market.

But after political battles, lawsuits and a two-year process of approvals and construction, shoppers will have a new place to pick up groceries and prescriptions next week.

The 41,000-square-foot store is opening at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of U.S. Highway 17-92 and North Pine Meadow Drive. The grocery store will also feature a pharmacy with a drive-through.

Store Manager Mark Rutledge said Neighborhood Markets have offerings that are different than Wal-Mart Supercenter stores – which are typically 182,000 square feet. The Neighborhood Market exclusives include a make-your-own pizza and flatbread station and a specialty pastry case where treats can be purchased by the slice or as a whole cake.

“When we started Supercenters, it was the full-blown big box mentality, where you could get tires, prescription, groceries, and clothing. The shopper now has kind of converted to more online and convenience," Rutledge said. "So, the Neighborhood Market is more of a traditional grocery store, but we’re a complement to that Supercenter. The normal shopper will go to a Supercenter once a month for their large, large purchases and then they’ll supplement that, or complement, their shopping experience by coming to a Neighborhood Market.”

The store will offer local products, including beer from DeBary-based Central 28 Beer Company and citrus grown in Florida, Rutledge said.

There are 95 full- and part-time employees at the Neighborhood Market, with roughly 85 of those people being new hires, Rutledge said.

Full-time, hourly employees at Wal-Mart stores in Florida make an average of $13.68 per hour, according to company figures.

“We need jobs and jobs that people don’t have to drive great distances to," said DeBary Economic Development Manager Roger Van Auker.

He also thinks the project "will draw and inspire more development in that area."

Construction of the new store came over the objection of many residents, particularly from the neighborhing Glen Abbey community, which challenged the city's decisions to rezone the property in court. The judge ruled the city acted properly.

There are more than 80 Neighborhood Market stores in Florida, including in Deltona, Holly Hill, and Port Orange. Another is targeted for DeLand.

Earlier this year, competitor Winn-Dixie renovated its 45,000-square-foot location in the DeBary Commons shopping center less than a mile away on 17-92.