Two New Hampton Roads Wal-Mart Supercenters Open, Bringing New Jobs and New Support for Military Families
NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 12, 2007 – Two new Wal-Mart Supercenters are opening in a few days in the Hampton Roads area, bringing new added convenience, new jobs and new found support for area military personnel and their families. The two stores joined together to provide $75,000 in charitable donations to local groups, with special emphases to help military families and support the troops.
“Our community has strong ties to the armed forces. With the two stores proximity to the naval air stations, hospitals and shipyards, we wanted to earmark a portion of our grand opening grants to help these families and show our support,” said Wal-Mart Regional General Manager Carol Johnson.
The stores are located in Portsmouth at 1098 Frederick Blvd., and in Norfolk at 7530 Tidewater Drive. The Portsmouth store opens Friday, Jan. 19, and the Norfolk store opens on Monday, Jan. 22.
Operation Homefront and Other Organizations Share $75,000 in Grants
The two new Supercenters will provide $75,000 in grand opening grants to 25 area organizations. Those that primarily focus on aid to military families and personnel include:
- $12,000 to the local chapter for Operation Homefront, a national non-profit that provides aid to military troops who have been deployed, their families and to wounded troops returning home.
- $7,500 to the Fisher House at the Navy Medical Center, which provides housing for veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers.
- $7,500 to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, which provides financial, educations and other assistance to members of the country’s Naval Services.
“We are exceptionally grateful to Wal-Mart for their generosity,” said Cathy McCarthy, director of the Hampton Roads chapter of Operation Homefront. “These two grants will help us fund emergency assistance programs that help provide food, utility and rent for military families in the area. We can also provide aid to wounded veterans returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan to bridge the gap between receiving their active duty pay and their veteran’s benefits. We want to do anything we can to make life a little easier for our service people and their families.”
In the tradition of focusing giving on the neighborhood and community needs, the new Wal-Mart stores will contribute $48,000 in additional grants to other local charities and civic groups in the Portsmouth and Norfolk areas. Both stores also will provide grants throughout the year, and organizations interested in receiving funding can contact the store managers for more details. (Editor’s Note: A complete list of grants given by each store can be found on the fact sheets found on the last two pages of this news release.)
Stores Feature New Wal-Mart Layout and Look
The two stores feature new interior designs, such as visible navigational signage for shopping in a larger store, wider aisles, lowered shelves and wood floors. In addition, the stores’ expanded electronics section showcases the latest in computers, iPods and high-definition televisions. Each store carries a full line of groceries as well as a bakery, a delicatessen, a frozen food section, meat, dairy and fresh produce sections, as well as an expanded selection of organic food items.
Additional Store Features
According to Wal-Mart Portsmouth Store Manager Wade Riddick, the 205,000-square-foot store is located in the mid-town area and will be open to customers from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days a week. The store features an expanded home trends section and a drive-through lane for pharmacy customers. It will have 28 full service and eight express checkout lanes.
The Norfolk Wal-Mart store will be open from 6 a.m. until midnight, seven days a week, said Store Manager Nicole Brown-Hardy. The 204,000-square-foot store features a portrait studio and an expanded baby department and lawn and garden center. It will have 19 full service and eight express checkout lanes.
Each store has more than 30 general merchandise departments including apparel and accessories, fine jewelry and health and beauty aids. In addition, each store will have a Tire & Lube Express, a vision center, a pharmacy, a one-hour photo lab, a Smart Styles hair salon, a Regal nail salon, a Subway restaurant, a branch of Woodforest Bank, a family fun center and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phone sales.
Supercenters Plan for More than 900 Associates, More than 7,500 Applications Received
Portsmouth Store Manager Riddick said that the new Wal-mart Supercenter will hire 425 new associates, and as of Jan. 4 had received approximately 3,900 applications. The Norfolk store plans to employ 547 associates, bringing the combined planned employment for the two stores to 972 jobs.
According to Store Manager Brown-Hardy, approximately 3,600 applications were received for positions with the Norfolk Supercenter. Twenty associates at her store have been with Wal-Mart for more than 10 years.
While the majority of positions are full time, Wal-Mart benefits are available to both full- and part-time associates -- including healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. 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. The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is $10.11 per hour.* Approximately 76 percent of Wal-Mart store managers today began their careers as hourly associates.
About Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, more than 176 million customers visit Wal-Mart stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, Sam’s Clubs or a subsidiary location in 15 countries around the world. In each of the countries where Wal-Mart operates, the company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of operating globally and giving back locally. Wal-Mart is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $270 million to these local communities. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmart.com or www.walmartfoundation.org.
Click here to learn more about Wal-Mart in Virginia
EDITOR’S NOTES
- Each store will host a special invitation-only open house. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Portsmouth store: Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
- Norfolk store: Friday, Jan. 19, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
- Store managers can provide details about the grand opening, offer quotes for interviews and arrange for photo opportunities.
- Portsmouth Store Manager Wade Riddick, (757) 399-1795
- Norfolk Store Manager Nicole Brown-Hardy, (757) 480-0857
*Average wage taken yearly (December 2005). See www.walmartfacts.com for more details.
FACT SHEET
Portsmouth Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store fast facts
- Location: 1098 Frederick Blvd., Portsmouth, Va.
- 205,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
- Grand opening ceremony at 8 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19; doors open at 9 a.m.
- Store manager: Wade Riddick
Charitable giving
$37,500 in charitable contributions to 16 area organizations
- Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Virginia
- City of Portsmouth Department of Parks, Recreation & Leisure Service
- City of Portsmouth Department of Social Services
- City of Portsmouth Fire Department
- City of Portsmouth Police Department
- Cradock Middle School
- I.C. Norcom High School
- Marine Toys for Tots
- Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
- New Saint Thomas Baptist Church
- Oasis Social Ministry
- Operation Homefront-Hampton Roads
- Park View Elementary School
- Portsmouth Public Library Foundation
- Westhaven Elementary School
- Woodrow Wilson High School
Store features
- Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products and fresh produce, organic products, apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, toys, health and beauty aids, full line of electronics, Tire & Lube Express, vision center, pharmacy with one drive-through lane, one-hour photo lab, Smart Styles hair salon, Regal nail salon, Subway restaurant, branch of Woodforest Bank, expanded Home Trends section, family fun center and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phone sales.
- Open 7 a.m. until 11 p.m., seven days a week
- Twenty-eight full-service and eight express checkout lanes
Employment
- Total planned employment is 425, approximately 3,900 applications received.
- Wal-Mart has created more than 240,000 new jobs over the past three years in the United States.
- The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates $10.11 per hour.*
- Wal-Mart benefits – available to full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. 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 all Wal-Mart store managers began their careers as hourly associates
* Average wage taken December 2005. See www.walmartfacts.com for details.
For more information
- Store manager: Wade Riddick, (757) 399-1795
- Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
FACT SHEET
Norfolk Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store fast facts
- Location: 7530 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, Va.
- 204,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
- Grand opening ceremony at 7 a.m., Monday, Jan. 22; doors open at 8 a.m.
- Store manager: Nicole Brown-Hardy
Charitable giving
$37,500 in charitable contributions to nine area organizations
- City of Norfolk Fire and Rescue
- City of Norfolk Police Department
- Fisher House (Naval Medical Center)
- Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia
- Habitat for Humanity
- Norfolk City Public Schools
- Norfolk State University-Brambleton Community Outreach Center
- Norview High School-Naval JROTC
- Operation Homefront-Hampton Roads
Store features
- Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products and fresh produce, organic products, apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, toys, health and beauty aids, full line of electronics, Tire & Lube Express, vision center, pharmacy, one-hour photo lab, Smart Styles hair salon, Regal nail salon, Subway restaurant, branch of Woodforest Bank, family fun center, portrait studio, Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phone sales.
- Open 6 a.m. until midnight seven days a week
- Nineteen full-service and eight express checkout lanes
Employment
- Total planned employment is 547; more than 3,600 applications received.
- Wal-Mart has created more than 240,000 new jobs over the past three years in the United States.
- The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates $10.11 per hour.*
- Wal-Mart benefits – available to full- and part-time associates – include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. 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 all Wal-Mart store managers began their careers as hourly associates
* Average wage taken December 2005. See www.walmartfacts.com for details.
For more information
- Store manager: Nicole Brown-Hardy, (757) 480-0857
- Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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