Wal-Mart to go Upscale?

It certainly seems they are experimenting with one store in Plano Texas.

The store in Plano, Texas opens today, and it will feature pricey wine, high-end electronic gadgets, jewelry, an espresso bar, and yes, the aforementioned sushi bar. Forget the gun section -- it's yoga here. Anyone who likes to tinker with their cars would be barking up the wrong tree at the Plano store; it has a much smaller automotive section than your usual Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart's not planning on any similar stores, word has it that if certain items are hot, it will consider selling them in its stores in other upscale areas.

Wal-Mart Sushi sounds kind of scary to me. What they need to do is create a new name for the upscale Wal-Mart. Kind of like how Sam's Club is their big box store. I think S. Waltons would be a good name for an upscale store. They just need to separate the brand identities and it should be able to make pretty decent money. This move would make them more of a direct challenge to Target and be able to snare some of their higher-margin market share.