Birmingham Wal-Mart Supercenter Revitalizes the Crestwood Area
Newly relocated and expanded store breathes new life into Eastwood Mall
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Oct. 19, 2007 – The new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Birmingham opens Wednesday, Oct. 24, bringing new jobs and an economic boost to the growing area. The relocated and expanded Irondale store will feature a full line of groceries and a vast selection of merchandise. Designed as a one-stop family shopping center, the larger store is presenting $27,000 in donations to local organizations in honor of its grand opening and plans to bring more than 200 new jobs to the area.
“The Crestwood community is excited about this Wal-Mart and is expressing a lot of enthusiasm regarding the renewal of Eastwood Mall,” said Store Manager Eric Taylor. “Increased sales and tax dollars will be a great benefit to this community. We’re pleased to be meeting a need in this area.”
The new Supercenter will celebrate its grand opening Wednesday, Oct. 24. A grand opening celebration will be at 7:30 a.m., and doors will be open to the public at 8 a.m. The new store is located at 1600 Montclair Road in Birmingham.
New Job Opportunities for Birmingham Community
The store plans to hire approximately 375 new associates to support the relocation and expansion to a Supercenter, according to Taylor, who began his Wal-Mart career as an hourly associate 13 years ago in Homewood.
“Many associates, like me, joined because they know they have the opportunity for a long-lasting career at Wal-Mart,” said Taylor. “We’re already seeing Wal-Mart’s positive impact on our community with the additional jobs we’re providing to this area.” Twenty-seven of the Irondale store’s associates have worked for Wal-Mart for more than 10 years. Eight associates have worked at the store since it first opened in July 1991. The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Alabama is approximately $10.27 per hour.*
Store Features Latest Layout and Merchandise
Over the past 16 years, the store has focused on serving the needs of the area. Wal-Mart entered the local community in 1991 when it opened at 5401 Beacon Drive in Irondale. The new Supercenter nearly doubles the size of the original store.
As a Supercenter, the new 198,803-square-foot store will offer general merchandise departments including health and beauty aids, home décor, fine jewelry, and a full line of accessories and apparel including Wal-Mart’s popular line, George©. The store’s expanded home entertainment and electronics department showcases the latest MP3 players, DVDs and a full display of high-definition and plasma televisions. In addition, the store offers a bakery, a delicatessen, beer and wine, frozen foods, fresh produce and meat and dairy sections.
The store features Wal-Mart’s newest designs, including a drive-through loading area in the garden center. Inside, customers will find stained concrete and hardwood flooring that lead to wider aisles and a customer-friendly layout. The new store also incorporates environmentally-friendly features such as skylights and LED lighting in freezers and coolers to increase energy efficiency.
For added convenience, the Supercenter has a pharmacy, a vision center, a full-service digital photo lab, and a family fun center. Additional leased space and services include a Woodforest Bank, a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Subway restaurant, and a nail salon. The store will serve customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will include 19 full-service and 10 express check-out lanes.
Focus on Community with $27,000 in Donations
According to Taylor, as part of the new store’s commitment to the community, the Birmingham Wal-Mart Supercenter will announce $27,000 in donations to local charitable and civic organizations. Among donations being made in honor of the store’s grand opening are grants provided to the City of Birmingham Fire and Rescue, Ronald McDonald House, Gate City Elementary, Shades Valley High School, and the City of Birmingham Police Department.
Like all Wal-Mart stores, the Birmingham store will provide grant dollars throughout the year to help its neighborhood organizations. Area organizations interested in learning more about funding from Wal-Mart or interested in raising money at Wal-Mart stores can contact the store for details, or go to www.walmartfoundation.org.
EDITOR’S NOTE: To review a full list of grant recipients, please see page three of this press release.
Grand Opening Ceremony Details
The store welcomes the community to attend its grand opening celebration at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24. Wal-Mart associate Ida McGhoc will perform the national anthem with Boy Scouts of America presenting the colors. Activities planned during the grand opening event include giveaways and product samples provided by PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Frito-Lay. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available free of charge, and a Sky Tracker boat simulator and an Auburn inflatable will provide entertainment for all ages
EDITOR’S NOTE: An invitation-only open house for VIPs, Wal-Mart associates and their families is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 22, beginning at 6 p.m. Preview tours will be provided and reporters and photographers are welcome.
Wal-Mart in Alabama
Click here for more information about Wal-Mart in Alabama.
As of September 2007, Wal-Mart employed 38,880 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in the state:
• Supercenters: 84
• Discount Stores: 10
• Neighborhood Markets: 4
• Sam’s Clubs: 12
• Distribution Centers: 3
In the fiscal year ended 2007, Wal-Mart collected on behalf of the state of Alabama more than $535.8 million in sales taxes and paid more than $33 million in state and local taxes.
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 $270 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.
FACT SHEET
Birmingham Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store Fast Facts
• Location: 1600 Montclair Road, Birmingham, Ala.
• 198,803-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
• 7:30 a.m. grand opening ceremony, Wednesday, Oct. 24; doors open at 8 a.m.
• Store manager: Eric Taylor
Store Features
• Merchandise departments including family apparel, expanded household organization department, health and beauty aids, household needs, expanded electronics department, toys, infant section, lawn and garden supplies, jewelry and shoes
• Other special features: a pharmacy, a vision center, a one-hour photo lab, a family fun center, a nail salon, a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Subway restaurant, and a Woodforest Bank.
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Nineteen full-service and 10 express check-out lanes
Employment
• More than 3,200 applications have been received; total employment of 375 expected for the store.
• The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Alabama is $10.27 per hour.*
• Store Manager Eric Taylor began his Wal-Mart career in 1994 as an hourly associate in Homewood.
• Wal-Mart benefits – available to eligible 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, business performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance.
* Average wage taken August 2007. See www.walmartfacts.com for details.
Charitable Giving
$27,000 in charitable contributions to nine area organizations:
• City of Birmingham Fire and Rescue
• City of Birmingham Police Department
• Gate City Elementary School
• Shade Valley High School
• Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Discovery Clubs of Alabama
• Ronald McDonald House
• Downtown Jimmie Hale Mission
• James Lewis Tennis Scholarship Foundation
For More Information
• Eric Taylor, 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 205-951-0118.
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