Wal-Mart plans to build a Sam's Club in St. Petersburg, which would be the city's first.

The company is considering a spot near 34th Street and 22nd Avenue N that's already heavily retail, with a nearby Publix, Winn-Dixie, Staples and Office Depot.

About 7.5 vacant acres near the St. Petersburg Times printing plant is under contract with a New York investor, said Andrew Corty, vice president of Times Publishing.

A sale of the lots at 17th Avenue N and 32nd Street could be final in the second half of 2010, he said.

The land would be combined with other property fronting U.S. 19, now occupied by Office Depot.

Sam's Club, a membership-based warehouse chain, has nearly a dozen locations within 50 miles of St. Petersburg, with the nearest store at 7001 Park Blvd. in Pinellas Park.

Rival Costco, which earned higher consumer ratings in the May issue of Consumer Reports, has stores in Clearwater and Brandon.