Calexico Wal-Mart Supercenter Celebrates Grand Opening
Store’s impact seen in 520 new jobs, benefits and $13,000 in charitable donations
CALEXICO, Calif., May 18, 2005 – Creating 520 new jobs and focusing on charitable support and every day low prices, the newly relocated Wal-Mart Supercenter in Calexico will celebrate its grand opening at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25. Doors will open at 8 a.m. The store is located at 2540 Rockwood Ave.
Store features
Originally opened in 1993 at 656 Yourman, the newly relocated store has gained more than 101,000 additional square feet. According to Store Manager Phil Aubrey, the new 219,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter now features 36 general merchandise departments including apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and a full line of electronics. In addition, the store offers a bakery, a delicatessen, a frozen food section and meat, dairy and fresh produce sections. It will be open to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will include 41 full-service, six express and eight self check-out lanes.
Other store features include: a Tire & Lube Express, a Taco Bell, a Pizza Hut, a portrait studio, a one-hour photo lab, a vision center, a pharmacy with two drive-up lanes, a Smart Style hair salon and a Regal nail salon. In addition, the store will have a Wal-Mart Connect Center for cellular phone sales, and a Wal-Mart Money Center will provide a separate area for customers to pay utility bills, transfer money, purchase money orders, ship packages and buy stamps.
Grand opening activities
The 7:15 a.m. grand opening ceremony will begin with the Calexico High School Band performing the national anthem. Members of the Calexico High School ROTC will present the colors and Aubrey, store manager, will cut the ribbon to the new store.
Employment
The store will employ approximately 922 associates, which includes 520 jobs created by the relocation. More than 8,400 people applied for jobs at the new store, most of which will be full-time, according to Aubrey. As of October 2004, the average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in California was $10.16 per hour.
“We were thrilled with the large pool of applicants we had for our jobs,” said Aubrey. “It makes me proud to work for this company where there truly are unlimited opportunities.” Seventy-four of the Calexico store’s associates have worked for Wal-Mart for more than 10 years, added Aubrey.
Charitable giving
Upon its opening, the store will announce $13,000 in donations through Wal-Mart’s Good Works community involvement program to a number of organizations. The store will also have a budget to give donations away locally throughout the year. Organizations interested in receiving funding can contact the store for details. Groups receiving donations upon the store’s opening include:
• Calexico High School FFA
• Calexico Mission School at the Calexico Adventist Church
• Calexico Police Activities League
• Neighborhood House of Calexico
• Pop Warner Little Scholars
• Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego
• United Way
• Valley Orthopaedic
More donations will be announced during the grand opening event.
In 2004, Wal-Mart Stores and SAM’S CLUB gave $8,625,303 to local causes and organizations in the communities they serve in the state of California. In addition, many charities and organizations received in-kind donations and additional funds raised through stores, CLUBS and distribution centers in the amount of $3,201,084, for a grand total of $11,826,387 contributed through Wal-Mart’s presence across the state.
Wal-Mart in California
EDITOR’S NOTE: See www.walmartfacts.com for more information about Wal-Mart in California.
As of March 15, 2005, Wal-Mart employed 62,974 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in the state of California:
• Supercenters: 3
• Discount Stores: 149
• SAM’S CLUBS: 34
• Distribution Centers: 9
In the last fiscal year, Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of California more than $719.9 million in sales taxes and paid more than $99.7 million in state and local taxes.
Wal-Mart benefits
Wal-Mart benefits – available to full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Associate premiums begin at less than $40 per month for an individual and less than $155 per month for a family, no matter how large. Wal-Mart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, performance-based bonuses, discounted stock purchase program and life insurance.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM’S CLUB locations in the United States. Internationally, the company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company’s securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartfacts.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.
EDITOR’S NOTES
• Wal-Mart store employees are called associates.
• Phil Aubrey, store manager, can provide details about the grand opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. He can be contacted at 760-768-1019.
• A special invitation-only open house for VIPs, Wal-Mart associates and their families is scheduled for Monday, May 23, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Preview tours will be provided. Checks will be presented to representatives of the community organizations this evening. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
FACT SHEET
Calexico Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store fast facts
• New location: 2540 Rockwood Ave., Calexico, Calif.
• Originally opened in 1993 at 656 Yourman
• 219,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter, gaining an additional 101,000 square feet
• Store opening 8 a.m., Wednesday, May 25; 7:15 a.m. grand opening ceremony
• Store manager: Phil Aubrey
Store features
• Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products and fresh produce, a Tire & Lube Express, a Taco Bell, a Pizza Hut, a portrait studio, a one-hour photo lab, a vision center, a pharmacy with two drive-up lanes, a Smart Style hair salon and a Regal nail salon. In addition, the store will have a Wal-Mart Connect Center, and a Wal-Mart Money Center will provide a separate area for customers to pay utility bills, transfer money, purchase money orders, ship packages and buy stamps.
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• 41 full-service, six express and eight self check-out lanes
Employment
• Total employment is 922, including 520 new jobs; 8,400 applicants
• Majority of jobs are full-time
• The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in California was $10.16 per hour.
• Wal-Mart benefits – available to full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Associate premiums begin at less than $40 per month for an individual and less than $155 per month for a family, no matter how large. Wal-Mart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, performance-based bonuses, discounted stock purchase program and life insurance.
• Approximately 76 percent of Wal-Mart store managers started as hourly associates.
Charitable giving
• $13,000 in charitable contributions to eight area organizations
Calexico High School FFA
Calexico Mission School at the Calexico Adventist Church
Calexico Police Activities League
Neighborhood House of Calexico
Pop Warner Little Scholars
Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego
United Way
Valley Orthopaedic
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