First Wal-Mart Supercenter Opens in Lake Havasu City
Supercenter to anchor new retail development LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz., June 4, 2008 – Lake Havasu City’s first Wal-Mart Supercenter will open its doors Wednesday, June 11, to a growing community anxious to experience one-stop shopping in a new setting. As one of the anchor stores of The Shops at Lake Havasu retail development, the Supercenter will provide area residents and tourists the perfect setting to find value, selection and convenience. The relocated store has moved to 5695 Highway 95 N., and will open its doors at 8 a.m. following a 7:30 a.m. grand opening ceremony. In recognition of the grand opening, the store will distribute $18,000 in grants to area non-profit organizations. “Wal-Mart’s Supercenter philosophy of having one convenient shopping experience and their emphasis on customer service has created excitement,” says Mayor Mark S. Nexsen. “Lake Havasu City residents are eager for the grand opening.”
“This community is very excited about our new store and the conveniences it will provide,” says Store Manager Mark Dutton. “We have been a part of the Lake Havasu community since 1990, and we’re excited for this next phase of Supercenter shopping.” Wal-Mart Continues Commitment to the Community
As a part of the grand opening celebration, store leaders will present $18,000 in grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation to local organizations, including the Lake Havasu Unified School District 1, Arizona’s Children Association and the Keep Havasu Beautiful Committee, among others. (See page three for a full list of grant recipients.) “Wal-Mart has been an outstanding corporate neighbor ever since their arrival in Lake Havasu City,” says Nexsen. “They have made significant contributions of cash and goods to many local worthwhile causes.” “We have always been committed to being a good community partner,” says Dutton. “To support several worthwhile organizations in our community is exciting. From children to the environment to health causes, we are proud of our tradition of giving back.” More Room Equals More Choices, Including Wal-Mart MoneyCenter
The new Lake Havasu City Wal-Mart Supercenter will be open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily, and was designed to complement The Shops at Lake Havasu with its brick and flagstone pillars. The largest area of growth for the store is the addition of a complete grocery department offering shoppers a wide selection of fresh groceries and prepared foods. Customers will find fresh bread and custom cakes in the bakery, fresh prepared foods in the delicatessen, organic food throughout the store, a sushi bar and an expanded selection of fine and chilled wine. Located only a mile from Lake Havasu, the new Supercenter will cater to outdoor enthusiasts with a wide assortment of water sports merchandise, camping gear and everything needed for a complete outing at the lake. The new Supercenter will also have a Wal-Mart MoneyCenter to assist customers who are outside of mainstream banking with convenient access to low-cost money services, including check cashing, money orders, bill payment and money transfers. With Wal-Mart’s every day low pricing, customers can save 25 to 50 percent or more over other leading money service providers. New Home Décor Selection Offered
Another highlight of the 208,000-square-foot store is the new expanded home furnishings department which will feature products from Wal-Mart’s new Canopy™ brand, a line of durable, affordable furniture and home accessories. The line carries furniture for every room in the home or home office as well as table and bath linens, tableware, lamps and rugs. Products in the home furnishings department will be organized by room and will feature more visible signage and displays showing how the products coordinate in a given room. And just in time for summer, the Supercenter’s outdoor living department will offer everything from fresh plants and flowers, to gardening tools and pots, to outdoor furniture options. Focus on Sustainability
This new store, like all new Wal-Mart stores, was constructed with energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. For example, plastic hangers, aluminum cans and office paper are sandwiched between cardboard, bundled into bales and sent to recycling centers. Part of the cement used in the store’s concrete flooring is made with recycled materials from coal-fired electrical generation and steel manufacturing. This reduces the amount of limestone that is needed, which is a natural resource, and also provides a use for waste products that would otherwise be sent to landfills. The floor’s finish also reduces the need for chemical cleaners. “The store also has 140 skylights to harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily,” says Dutton. “While the freezer cases and non-sales areas of the store have LED lights and sensors that automatically shut off the lights when those areas are unoccupied or customers or associates are not present.” LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. The new store is also committed to offering products that are affordable and sustainable. Grand Opening Activities Scheduled
The grand opening ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, as representatives of the London Bridge Color Guard present the colors. Doug Blair, nephew of store associate Debbie Orr, will perform the national anthem on the trumpet, and Victor Rodriguez, father of associate Sharon Rodriguez, will lead the invocation. Following brief comments by store leaders and city officials, Jim Dutton, the father of Store Manager Mark Dutton, will cut the ribbon to signify the opening of the new Supercenter. Numerous product samples and character appearances will take place throughout the day. 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.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 Sunday, June 8, at 6 p.m. Preview tours will be provided and checks will be presented to the community organizations this evening. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Mark Dutton, 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 928-764-3700.
- Statements and quotes on behalf of Wal-Mart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
FACT SHEET
Lake Havasu City Wal-Mart Supercenter Store fast facts - Location: 5695 Highway 95 N., Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
- Former location: 1795 Kiowa Ave.
- 208,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter
- Grand opening celebration: 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 11; doors to open at 8 a.m.
- Preview night: Sunday, June 8, at 6 p.m. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Store manager: Mark Dutton
Charitable giving
$18,000 in charitable contributions will be provided to several area organizations including: - Arizona’s Children Association
- Havasu Community Health Foundation
- K-12 Foundation for Lake Havasu Unified School District 1
- Keep Havasu Beautiful Committee
- Lake Havasu Area Literacy Council
- Lake Havasu Unified School District 1
- Mohave County
- Regional Center for Border Health
Store features - Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, expanded liquor department, fresh sushi bar, apparel and accessories, toys, books, infant section, fine jewelry, expanded electronics department, home décor, sporting goods, outdoor living center, health and beauty aids, one-hour photo lab, vision center, pharmacy, family fun center, Wal-Mart Connect Center, Wal-Mart MoneyCenter
- Additionally, leased areas in the store include a Subway restaurant, a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Regal Nail Salon and a SunBank branch
- The new Supercenter will be open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. daily
Employment - The store plans to employ approximately 450 associates, including 170 planned new jobs.
- The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is $10.83 per hour.*
- Store Manager Mark Dutton began his Wal-Mart career in 1986 as a sales clerk in Port Isabel, Texas.
- 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 May 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for details. For more information - Store manager: Mark Dutton, 928-764-3700
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