Construction crews dug the foundation Friday afternoon for AutoZone’s new store near the Walmart on 18th Avenue NW in Austin. The auto supplier will leave its Oakland Avenue location in favor of a newer, larger store when the work completes. -- Kevin Coss/kevin.coss@austindailyherald.com

The Walmart store on the north end of Austin is getting a new neighbor.

Construction crews have broken ground on the empty lot sandwiched between Walmart’s parking lot and 18th Avenue NW. Automotive supplier AutoZone will build a larger store there and move from its current location at 103 W. Oakland Ave., according to Tony Blackmer, regional manager with AutoZone.

“The store’s just not big enough,” he said of the Oakland store. “We’re looking forward to a new store in Austin.”

All services the store offers will remain the same, Blackmer said. He was not able to release details as to how long construction would take or when the new store would open.

The city approved the plan within the last month and a half, according to Craig Hoium the city’s community development director.