Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is planning a $972,000 remodeling project at its store in the Shadle Center, in northwest Spokane, documents on file with the city of Spokane show.

The makeover at Wal-Mart's 148,000-square-foot store, at 2301 W. Wellesley, would be among five projects planned or under way in Spokane and Kootenai counties by the Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant.

In Spokane County, Wal-Mart is remodeling a store in Spokane Valley, and it earlier announced it plans to build a second Spokane Valley outlet, starting next year. In Kootenai County, it's building two supercenters—one in Post Falls and the other in Hayden.

The company's projects in the two counties could total more than $37 million, assuming the value of the planned Spokane Valley supercenter is similar to that of the less expensive of the North Idaho stores. Wal-Mart representatives familiar with the Shadle project couldn't be reached for comment, but building permit documents say Raymond Harris & Associates Architects, of Dallas, designed the project. Wal-Mart hasn't listed a contractor for the project.

The plans say Wal-Mart wants to "remove the entire pharmacy for new construction." Other departments that will be remodeled significantly include the garden center, photo lab, vision center, grocery, and business offices.

The floor and ceiling tiles will be replaced, and the interior and exterior walls will be repainted, the plans say. Wal-Mart also plans to replace its signage and incorporate a new logo there.

Larry Naccarato, a Spokane building inspector, says the city has approved the Shadle plans, although Wal-Mart hadn't picked up the building permit for the project as of last week. The project appears to be similar to the $927,000 remodeling project that's under way at Wal-Mart's Spokane Valley outlet, at 15727 E. Broadway. Murphy Asphalt & Construction, of Denver, started work on that project in March, and it's scheduled to be completed in June.

Wal-Mart announced in March that it plans to build a second Spokane Valley store, at 5500 E. Sprague, which will employ about 300 people. Construction of that 151,000-square-foot structure is expected to begin next spring, and the store opening is planned for the spring of 2012, says Jennifer Spall, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman.

Wal-Mart declines to disclose the cost of the planned new Spokane Valley store, Spall says. A contractor hasn't been selected for that project yet, she says.

The 150,000-square-foot store under construction in Post Falls, Idaho, is valued at $10.3 million, and the 200,000-square-foot store under construction in Hayden, Idaho, is valued at $15.2 million, according to building permit records. The North Idaho stores are scheduled to open late this year with a combined total of about 600 employees.