Walmart returns to Reynosa a decade after fire shut its only store

The Walmart logo is displayed on a smartphone screen. Courtesy of | Upsplash | Marques Thomas

Walmart is returning to Reynosa, Mexico with an $80.25 million investment and a plan to open two new shopping centers more than a decade after a fire destroyed its only store in the border city

The retail giant announced one of its locations will feature both a Walmart Supercenter and a Sam’s Club. City officials hailed the announcement as a milestone for Reynosa’s economy and a sign that international retailers are once again betting on the city.

“This means more jobs, more opportunities and a development that people can feel close to home,” Reynosa Mayor Carlos Peña Ortiz said in a news release. “Congratulations to the people of Reynosa and to Walmart.”

The investment represents nearly one-third of Walmart’s national capital budget this year and 70% of its total outlay in Tamaulipas.

Company executives estimate the expansion will generate more than 1,300 jobs, including 500 direct positions and about 800 indirect ones, bolstering Reynosa’s retail and service sectors.

One of the new complexes will be paired with a Sam’s Club, but neither of their locations have been disclosed. Both are expected to be completed in 2026, with at least one store tentatively scheduled to open in February 2026.

The announcement marks a turnaround for Reynosa.

In 2015, Walmart closed its only local store after a fire destroyed the facility, leaving the city without a presence from the global retailer. A decade later, the chain is once again placing Reynosa on its list of strategic border markets.

Economic development leaders said the move reflects Reynosa’s ability to attract and sustain large-scale private investment.

Mauricio Treviño Garza in his office discussing Walmart’s economic impact on Reynosa. — _{Mauricio Treviño Garza}

“Reynosa is achieving a balance among key sectors: commerce, services, industry, logistics, health and education,” said Mauricio Treviño Garza, the Reynosa Secretary of Economic Development and Employment. “Investments like Walmart’s reinforce that vision of sustainable growth and generate confidence in our local market.”

Walmart’s commitment also comes as other national chains expand in Reynosa, among them Chedraui and Liverpool. Their growing presence has helped diversify the city’s economy and strengthen its role as a hub for commerce and services in northern Tamaulipas.

Officials said projects of this scale go beyond retail, signaling a broader shift in Reynosa’s competitiveness as a destination for private capital.

With new stores, fresh jobs, and renewed consumer spending, officials said Walmart’s return underscores the city’s momentum as it works to balance growth across multiple sectors.