Wal-Mart Is Shopping for Broadways

It’s the retail world’s version of recycling.

Wal-Mart apparently wants to expand its Southern California presence by snapping up old Broadway department store locations.

In early June, city officials in Orange said that the nation’s leading retailer had applied for permission to knock down the Broadway store at Mall of Orange and replace it with a massive new store. Wal-Mart also has expressed interest in taking over the Broadway at Panorama Mall in Los Angeles. The two Broadway stores are now owned by Federated Department Stores, which is phasing out the Broadway name.

Wal-Mart officials don’t discuss expansion plans, but the chain reportedly is interested in opening as many as 100 stores in the Golden State during coming years. Wal-Mart now has about 90 stores here, including locations in Anaheim and Aliso Viejo.

Greg Johnson covers retail businesses and restaurants for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5950 and at greg.johnson@latimes.com.