According to Forbes, the move signals that parent company Walmart has not given up on mining small stores for growth, even after closing down the Walmart Express concept in 2016. The company also seems determined to attract more upscale suburban shoppers than business owners.

The Dallas Sam’s Club store is intended to make “shopping with us even easier, through a more digital experience, including fast membership sign-up, easy returns [by mobile checkout] Scan & Go and digital signage throughout the club,” said Jamie Iannone, CEO of SamsClub.com and also Walmart's executive vice president of membership and technology. The small footprint, he said, “is perfect for testing innovations in a live shopping environment.”

The Dallas store will test roughly 1,000 to 2,000 curated stock-keeping units and cater to shoppers with grab-and-go meals and such services as same-day pickup.