LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Walmart Supercenter is planned for Outer Loop just across the from Jefferson Mall in Okolona.

Walmart bought the shopping center site at 4840 Outer Loop for $4 million in late August, according to Jefferson County PVA records. 

The site apparently used to be a Walmart years ago, according to a photo on file with the PVA. Walmart spokesman Bill Wertz said the chain did have a store "in a building it leased which was closed six or eight years ago for business reasons."

Construction of the 150,000-square-foot store is expected to start early next year, which would mean the store would open in early 2016, Wertz said. The new store was first reported by Louisville Business First on Monday.

Wertz described the project in an email to WDRB News:

Yes, we are building a new Supercenter in the Okolana area. It was approved by the city last year. As you probably know, our Supercenters offer a full grocery store with fresh produce, meat, a bakery, and a deli, along with a pharmacy and a broad range of general merchandise – all at our famous affordable prices! This store will be about 150,000 sq. ft. in size and also have a Garden Center. The store will employ approximately 300 associates, most of them in fulltime jobs. We don't have a timetable for construction at this point, but hope to be able to go out for bids soon and start building early next year. It takes about a year to complete a Supercenter once we start construction.