Is there a new Wal-Mart going in near you?

Arkansas-based Wal-Mart has more than 4,000 stores and distribution centers across the United States -- and the group Wal-Mart Watch is trying to map every single one of them.

The watchdog group's interactive map aims to provide reliable, up-to-date information on store size, type of development nearby, and other useful information for both existing and proposed operations.

The map not only gives a useful snapshot of the "enormous amount of real estate" Wal-Mart holds; the group hopes it is valuable for community groups assessing the value of a Wal-Mart store in their area.

In related news, Arkansas Business reports that Wal-Mart leaders have known since 2000 that stores were illegally denying employees breaks and meals but ignored their own internal audits. The company faces a slew of lawsuits over the issue, which must be troubling given Wal-Mart's recent losing streak in court:

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. now faces more than 70 lawsuits across the country accusing the Bentonville retailer of failing to award rest or meal breaks to its employees or forcing employees to work off the clock without pay.

Since December 2005, Wal-Mart has lost all three of the wage and class-action lawsuits it has faced in courtrooms, with damages now totaling nearly $400 million. And the third case, which hasn't concluded, has the potential to reach $2 billion in damages.