Shop Around the Clock at Bedford's New Wal-Mart Supercenter
The first 24-hour Supercenter in Cuyahoga County opens March 7
BEDFORD, Ohio, Feb. 28, 2008 – The first 24-hour Wal-Mart Supercenter in Cuyahoga County will open its doors to the public on Friday, March 7, giving “night owls” and customers with non-traditional work schedules the opportunity to do their shopping at their own convenience. The new store is located at 22209 Rockside Road in Bedford and is one of four Supercenters opening in Ohio this month.
In addition to bringing 24-hour shopping to the area, the store’s opening will have a positive impact on the community through grants that will support education and area children’s programs aimed at literacy.
Supercenter Convenience, 24 Hours a Day
“The people of Cuyahoga County, and the community of Bedford, will really enjoy the convenience of being able to shop at Wal-Mart at all hours of the day or night,” said Store Manager Tim Thompson.
The 203,000-square-foot store will feature a full line of groceries, including deli and bakery items, frozen foods, fresh produce and meat and dairy products. Customers can also purchase apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, health and beauty aids, toys and a full range of items for home repair and decoration. The lawn and garden center will feature a drive-through lane where customers can load bulky purchases into their vehicles, and the expanded electronics department will carry the newest flat-screen televisions, gaming systems and home computers.
Additional services include a Tire & Lube Express, a vision center, a one-hour photo lab, a pharmacy with two drive-through lanes and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless sales. Leased areas in the store include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Regal Nail Salon, a branch of Woodforest Bank and a Subway restaurant.
As a leader in environmental sustainability, Wal-Mart’s store interior incorporates an environmentally friendly design using more than 200 skylights and concrete flooring made with recycled materials. Energy saving motion-sensor lighting will also be featured in the refrigerator casing and the bathrooms.
Four New Supercenters Have Positive Impact on Ohio
The Bedford store is one of four to open in Ohio the first week in March. Other stores will open in Lancaster, Cortland and Perrysburg, bringing a combined total of 1,265 new jobs and increased tax revenues to the state. The stores will have local impact as well, each distributing $18,000 in grand opening grants to deserving organizations for a total of $72,000. The stores will also support Ohio manufacturers by carrying products from companies such as Ballreich Chip Company, Keystone Meats, Ole Mexican Products, Ghossian’s Mid East Bakery and DiRusso Sausage.
Store Will Support Groups with Focus on Education
In celebration of the store’s grand opening, three area organizations will share a total of $18,000 in grants. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland, the Southeast Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library and the Southeast YMCA will each receive grants to further programs that support education and children’s programming.
“We are grateful and honored to receive this grant from Wal-Mart,” said Maureen Mizerak, executive director of the Southeast YMCA. “Thanks to their generosity, we will be able to apply these funds to our Strong Kids Campaign, which will provide scholarships to summer day camp, child care, care for older adults and other services for families and children.” Thompson said that the grants to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cleveland and the Cuyahoga County Library will help both organizations provide and improve their after school programs, particularly in the area of adolescent literacy.
The new store will provide contributions throughout the year to help neighborhood organizations. Groups 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.
New Jobs Result from Store Opening
The new store will employ approximately 400 associates, according to Thompson, and the majority of the jobs will be full time. At 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, company performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance. The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is $10.65 per hour.*
Wal-Mart in Ohio
Click here for more information about Wal-Mart in Ohio.
As of February 2008, Wal-Mart employed 52,256 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in Ohio:
• Supercenters: 114
• Discount Stores: 30
• Sam’s Clubs: 30
• Distribution Centers: 4
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of 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 $296 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.
EDITOR’S NOTES
• An invitation-only open house for VIPs, Wal-Mart associates and their families is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Preview tours will be provided, and reporters and photographers are welcome.
• Tim Thompson, 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 216-587-0110.
• Statements and quotes on behalf of Wal-Mart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
* Average wage taken February 2008. See www.walmartfacts.com for more details.
FACT SHEET
Bedford Wal-Mart Supercenter
Store fast facts
• Location: 22209 Rockside Road, Bedford, Ohio
• 203,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
• Grand opening celebration: 7 a.m., Friday, March 7; doors open at 7:15 a.m.
• Store manager: Tim Thompson
Charitable giving
$18,000 in charitable contributions will be provided to three area organizations including:
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland
• Cuyahoga County Public Library- Southeast Branch
• YMCA
Store features
• Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, vision center, health and beauty aids, expanded electronics and home entertainment department, toys, Tire & Lube Express, lawn and garden center with drive-through lane, one-hour photo lab, pharmacy with two drive-through lanes, vision center, Wal-Mart Connect Center
• Leased areas in the store include SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, Regal Nail Salon, Woodforest Bank branch, Subway restaurant.
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Employment
• The store will employ approximately 400 associates.
• The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is $10.65 per hour.*
• Approximately 76 percent of Wal-Mart store managers began their careers with the company as hourly associates.
• 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, company performance-based bonuses, stock purchase program and life insurance.
* Average wage taken February 2008. See www.walmartfacts.com for details.
For more information
• Store manager: Tim Thompson, 216-587-0110
• Wal-Mart information online: www.walmartfacts.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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