Wal-Mart Opens First Store Inside the Capital Beltway Near Washington, D.C.
Store receives more than 11,000 applications for 330 jobs
LANDOVER HILLS, Md. – March 22, 2007 – At 12 noon today, Wal-Mart opened its first store inside the Capital Beltway in Landover Hills, Md. The store, located in the Capital Plaza shopping center at 6210 Annapolis Road, just a few miles from Washington, D.C. More than 11,000 applications were received for the 330 new jobs at the store.
“This store is an example of what working families need and Wal-Mart provides – good jobs and affordable, quality merchandise that helps everyone live better,” said Wal-Mart President & CEO, USA, Eduardo Castro-Wright. “In so many ways and for so many people, by opening these doors today, we are opening the door to economic opportunity.”
In an effort to meet the specific needs of the community, the Landover Hills Prince George’s County store will feature products that meet the specific needs of the surrounding community, including expanded selections of Hispanic foods, a larger than usual high-tech electronics department with expanded selections in Gospel, Latino and R&B music, and a sports department highlighting games and equipment popular in the area. Outside the store, Wal-Mart representatives met with local school representatives to create an Adopt-a-School program matching Prince George’s County stores with local schools. The new Landover Hills store will partner with Port Towns Elementary School in this effort.
“There are many people who have counted the days and hours to our opening, and we want to thank a very professional team of inspectors, the county and community leaders for their full support in helping us meet the necessary approvals expeditiously,” said Don Frieson, Wal-Mart vice president and regional general manager. “The Landover Hills Wal-Mart is a true example of our focus to be store of the community by listening to our community members, focusing on customer needs and embracing community involvement. We are proud of the road to success here in Prince George’s County and will continue to keep our doors open to future opportunities that make a positive impact for Landover Hills, including working with other area businesses.”
Landover Hills was recently selected as one of Wal-Mart’s 10 “Jobs and Opportunity Zones” across the country. As part of the initiative, the new store will partner with local businesses and organizations to generate economic opportunity in Prince George’s County.
“The fact that there were approximately 30 applicants for every available job underscores the need and interest for local employment opportunities,” said Dr. James A. Dula, president & CEO of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce. “We welcome this new Wal-Mart to the county.”
The average wage at Wal-Mart for a full-time hourly associate in the state of Maryland is $10.26 per hour.* Every Wal-Mart associate can become eligible for health coverage, including access to plans that cost as little as $23 per month. This includes both full-time and part-time associates. It also includes their children, who can get coverage starting at less than 50 cents per day, no matter how many children an associate may have.
There are two other Wal-Mart stores in Prince George’s County – one in Bowie and another in Clinton. Just as the new Landover Hills store will partner with Port Towns Elementary School, the Bowie store has partnered with Kenilworth Elementary, and the Clinton store has adopted Stephen Decatur Middle School.
The new store’s Capital Plaza location formerly housed a Montgomery Ward and Hechinger’s until 1999 and 2000, respectively, and several smaller stores on short-term leases. To meet the unique needs of this community, Wal-Mart worked with local leaders on the store’s architectural design and landscaping. The company also made a special commitment to the community that public safety would be a key priority for the store, for instance, by implementing a state-of-the-art security system.
Store Showcases Sustainable Features and Time Saving Services
Elements of the new store showcase Wal-Mart’s commitment to sustainability. It has concrete floors made with recycled fly ash content and skylights in the roof to enable daylight harvesting, which can completely eliminate interior sales lighting during sunny days. In keeping with the company’s commitment to making sure customers do not have to choose between sustainable products and products they can afford, merchandise such as Baby George organic cotton clothing will be available. The store also will use light emitting diode (LED) lighting in its jewelry and freezer cases, and has a compact fluorescent light bulb display case to educate customers on the environmental and economic benefits of using high-efficiency bulbs.
Designed for convenient one-stop family shopping, the new 144,300 square-foot Wal-Mart store features various general merchandise departments including family apparel, health and beauty aids, dry goods food, electronics, household needs, party supplies and crafts, toys, lawn and garden supplies, jewelry and shoes. In addition, the store offers time saving conveniences such as a Tire & Lube Express, a pharmacy, and a one-hour photo lab. Leased spaced areas around the store contain a portrait studio, a nail salon, and a Subway restaurant.
It will be open to customers from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week and will include 14 full-service and six express check-out lanes. A grand opening celebration will be forthcoming.
Store Opening Provides $37,500 in Community Grants
The store has announced $37,500 in donations to a number of community-based organizations. Monies were given to support a variety of local causes including economic development, education and human services. The store will have a budget to give donations throughout the year. Groups receiving donations upon the store’s opening include:
• The Collective Banking Group
• The Prince George’s County Community Foundation
• Hoop Dreams Scholarship Program
• The Bladensburg Senior High School Marching Band
• The Mission of Love Charities
Wal-Mart’s Economic Impact in Maryland
As of February 2007, Wal-Mart employed 15,670 associates in Maryland.
Including the newest Wal-Mart store in Landover Hills, the company currently owns and operates the following facilities in the state of Maryland:
• Wal-Mart Supercenters: 9
• Wal-Mart Stores: 32
• Sam’s Clubs: 12
• Distribution Centers: 2
Wal-Mart generated more than $120.4 million in state sales taxes in 2006 and paid more than $16.8 million in state and local taxes that same year. In FY 2006, Wal-Mart spent $746,933,375 with 620 suppliers in the state, supporting more than 29,000 supplier jobs.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, more than 127 million customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $245 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.
FACT SHEET
Landover Hills, Md. Wal-Mart
Store fast facts
• Location: 6210 Annapolis Road
• 144,300 square-feet
• Store opening: Thursday, March 22, 12 noon
• Store manager: Lawrence (Larry) Winick
• Store hours: 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m., seven days a week
Store features
• Wal-Mart stores are the flagship retail division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
• General merchandise departments including family apparel, health and beauty aids, dry goods food, electronics, household needs, party supplies, toys, fabrics and crafts, lawn and garden supplies, jewelry and shoes
• Other special features: Tire & Lube Express, pharmacy, portrait studio, nail salon, Subway, and one-hour photo lab
• 14 full-service and six express checkout lanes
Employment
• 330 new jobs; more than 11,000 applications
• The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Maryland is $10.26 per hour*
• Wal-Mart health benefits – Every Wal-Mart associate who works in the continental U.S. can become eligible for individual health coverage that costs as little as $23 per month. That includes full-time and part-time associates. It also includes their children, who can get coverage starting at less than 50 cents per day, no matter how many children an associate may have. 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.
• Store Manager Larry Winick started as a co-manager five years ago at a Wal-Mart store in Indiana.
* Average wage taken yearly (December 2006). See www.walmartfacts.com for more details.
Charitable giving
$37,500 in charitable contributions to six area organizations
• The Collective Banking Group
• The Prince George’s County Community Foundation
• Hoop Dreams Scholarship Program
• The Bladensburg Senior High School Marching Band
• The Mission of Love Charities
• Partnership with Port Towns Elementary School through Wal-Mart’s Adopt-A-School program
For more information
• Wal-Mart Media Hotline; 800-331-0085
• Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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