St. Louis Walmart Expansion Helps Customers Save More for Christmas
Supercenter brings jobs and celebrates grand opening with $12,500 in grants ST. LOUIS, Mo., Nov. 5, 2008 – Customers at the St. Louis Walmart on Telegraph Road have come to appreciate the store’s unbeatable prices over the last 13 years, especially during the Christmas season. This year with the store’s expansion, shoppers will find even more gifts and groceries to help them save money during the holidays. The store will celebrate its transformation to a new 220,000 square-foot Supercenter with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The Walmart, which originally opened on Jan. 31, 1995, plans to employ more than 150 new associates. The newly expanded store will have a positive economic impact on the area through additional jobs and as a continued anchor to draw other businesses, said Donna Schumann, executive director of the South County Chamber of Commerce. “The store has improved business in South County,” Schumann said. “They have contributed to the beautification of that part of the county, as well. We just completed the Telegraph Bridge reconstruction. Walmart stepped up to offer assistance on the landscaping projects. They’re always there to say, ‘What can we do?’ They’re very reliable, and it doesn’t stop with a donation.” Supercenter to Make Holiday Shopping a Breeze
The new Supercenter will help customers get a jump on their holiday shopping while saving money. For budget-conscious shoppers looking for Christmas trees, ornaments, wrapping paper, lights and outside décor, the store features a Christmas Shop where customers can meet all their holiday needs at affordable prices. r. “In addition to all the improvements making the store more easily navigated and visually appealing, we’ve added new merchandise to make Walmart a one-stop Christmas shop. We’ve expanded electronics, toys and home decor,” Store Manager Curt Homan said. “We know our customers will be trying to stretch their dollars more than ever this year, and they’re going to find unbeatable prices at their new Supercenter.” Local Grants Presented to Community Organizations
The new store will donate $12,500 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to organizations across the county, including a $5,000 grant to the Affton Christian Food Pantry, an ecumenical pantry supported by a number of churches in the area. Pantry Manager Eugene Haessig said the money comes at a time when economic difficulties have dramatically increased demand for food and other items like laundry and cleaning supplies. “This grant will help us keep up with that demand,” said Haessig. “We were pleased that Walmart considered us and is such a responsible business in our community.” (A complete list of grants is on Page 3). Store Offers Value and Convenience
Wider aisles and new signs will aid shoppers in quickly navigating the Supercenter to find their everyday -- and holiday -- necessities. Shoppers will now have their pick of groceries, from produce to seafood to a wide variety of ethnic foods. There will also be a new MoneyCenter, a hair salon and a Family Fun Center to provide even more convenience for customers, said Homan. The pharmacy is now closer to the front door, and there are benches for shoppers to enjoy, as well. The Walmart MoneyCenter is available to assist customers who are outside of mainstream banking with basic money services, including check cashing, money orders, bill payment and money transfers. With Walmart’s unbeatable prices, customers can save 25 to 50 percent or more over other leading money service providers. Customers can also get a Walmart Money Card, which is a prepaid re-loadable Visa card that provides many of the features and conveniences of a checking account and credit card without a credit check or the need for a bank account. Supercenter Expansion Includes Environmentally Friendly Features
The St. Loius Supercenter was designed to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently that traditional fluorescent lighting. Water flow is regulated in the store’s bathrooms through the use of sensor-activated faucets in the sinks and high-efficiency toilets and urinals that regulate water flow and reduce consumption. Turbines in the faucets actually generate the electricity that powers those sensors. Like most Walmart stores, waste heat from the refrigeration system is used to heat hot water for restrooms and kitchen areas. The store recycles everything from motor oil to waste cooking oil. The recycling program features a sandwich bale process that takes all loose plastic, hangers, aluminum cans and office paper and sandwiches them between cardboard, bundles them into bales and sends them to recycling centers. The photo department also uses green technology, operating completely without liquid chemicals for photo processing. Grand-Opening Activities
To celebrate the new store opening, residents are invited to the 7:30 a.m. grand-opening activities, which will include an invocation by Pastor Terry Miller of Living Water Church and presentation of colors by Boy Scout Troop 824. Assistant manager and saxophonist Jake Welty will lead the national anthem. Two special guests will cut the ribbon: a child from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a child who is on the transplant list at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Some of the grants will be presented to representatives of local organizations at the event. Other activities planned during the celebration include product samplings, costume character appearances and giveaways. About Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart 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. Walmart proudly supports the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods and last year gave more than $296 million to 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 Walmart associates, their families and other VIPs is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday and will include preview tours. Reporters and photographers are welcome. Most of the grants will be presented this evening.
- Store Manager Curt Homan is available for interviews about the grand opening and can arrange for photo opportunities or preview tours. He can be contacted at 314-845-8544.
- Statements and quotes on behalf of Walmart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees.
FACT SHEET
St. Louis Walmart Supercenter Store fast facts - Location: 3270 Telegraph Road, St. Louis
- 220,000 square-foot Walmart Supercenter
- Store opening 8 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12; 7:30 a.m. grand-opening ceremony
- Store manager: Curt Homan
Charitable giving
$12,500 in charitable contributions to area organizations: - Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital (transplant unit)
- Literacy Roundtable
- Make A Wish Foundation
- Mehlville Oakville School District Foundation (for tutoring)
- Society of St. Vincent DePaul (Affton food pantry)
- St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Store features - Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, health and beauty aids, toys, vision center, Tire & Lube Express, Blimpie restaurant, SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, MoneyCenter, one-hour digital photo lab, pharmacy and a Walmart Connect Center.
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Employment - The store plans to employ approximately 150 new associates.
- The average wage at Walmart for regular, full-time hourly associates in Missouri is $11.10 per hour.*
- Store Manager Curt Homan began his Walmart career 20 years ago as an assistant manager in Desloge, Mo.
- Walmart benefits – available to eligible full- and part-time associates – include health insurance with no lifetime maximum. Walmart 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.walmartstores.com for details. For more information # # #
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