Walmart Transforms Springfield Store into Full Supercenter
Newly expanded Supercenter adds groceries, provides 400 hometown jobs SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Jan. 23, 2009 – The Walmart store at the intersection of Kearney and Glenstone has been a familiar stop for Springfield shoppers for more than 30 years, but longtime customers may have difficulty recognizing the new Supercenter opening there on Wednesday. Walmart has transformed the store into a Supercenter that offers a full line of groceries, the latest electronics and a wide variety of shopping conveniences. The Supercenter will announce $15,000 in grants to local organizations as part of its grand-opening festivities beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Located at 1923 E. Kearney, the store originally opened in 1978 as part of Northtown Mall. Walmart built the Supercenter in two phases on the site of the former mall. The initial phase opened in June 2008, offering general merchandise, time-saving services and a limited selection of grocery staples. With the completion of the second phase of construction, the 184,212-square-foot Supercenter now adds a full selection of groceries, as well as a bakery, a delicatessen, a frozen food section, Hispanic foods, and meat, dairy and fresh produce sections. The store will also sell cold beer, wine and liquor. “We have a loyal customer base and some have been shopping here since our original opening 30 years ago. We think they’ll love the easy-to-shop layout of the new Supercenter, our groceries and great merchandise selection,” says Store Manager Mildred C. Weber. “Now that we’re a full Supercenter, our customers can find everything they need for a great Super Bowl party with a single stop, including deli platters, snacks and beverages to flat-screen televisions and team apparel.” Supercenter Adds 100 New Jobs
The Supercenter plans to employ approximately 400 associates, including 100 new positions created by the recent expansion. Twelve associates have worked at the store since its original opening in 1978, and 15 associates have worked for Walmart for at least 20 years. “Walmart offers more than a job, it is an opportunity to build a career,” Weber said. Like most Walmart store managers, Weber started her career with the retailer as an hourly associate. She joined the company in 1985, working as a cashier in Bartlesville, Okla. The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Missouri is approximately $11.17 per hour* 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. Community Support Continues with Grand Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $15,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the store’s grand-opening celebration. These grants are in addition to the $20,000 distributed by the store at the June 2008 celebration of the completion of the first phase of construction. Associates at the Springfield Supercenter selected Ozarks Food Harvest to receive a $5,000 grant to support its meal program and other hunger relief efforts. The city of Springfield will receive $6,000 in grants to support its fire and police departments. Other recipients include Fair Grove Elementary School, Weller Elementary School and the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch. The grant to Ozarks Food Harvest reinforces the store’s ongoing support of the food bank. The store conducts a food drive every quarter to support the food bank’s Food for Thought weekend backpack program that provides nutritious food for children who might otherwise go hungry at home. Bart Brown, executive director of Ozarks Food Harvest, said, “We are so grateful for our partnership with Walmart stores and their associates. They are truly helping us fulfill The Food Bank’s mission of Transforming Hunger into Hope™. The new Supercenter has collected thousands of pounds of food for our programs and is a generous supporter of our Backpack Program which provides food on the weekends for needy children. The generous grant in honor of this grand opening could not come at a more needed time. We truly appreciate every donation Walmart makes to Ozarks Food Harvest.” The store will join other area Walmart stores as an active participant in a partnership garnered between Walmart and Feeding America—The Nation’s Food Bank Network. The Walmart stores in the Springfield area donate their surplus food to Ozarks Food Harvest, which distributes it to a network of more than 340 agencies such as shelters, soup kitchens, senior centers, pantries and daycares in 29 southwest Missouri counties. Donated food items include meat, bakery items and deli products that are less than four days beyond the sell-by date. “We know that financial support to our local organizations makes a real difference, and we will play a role in continuing Walmart’s commitment to Springfield and neighboring communities,” Weber said. “Like all Walmart stores, our store will work with organizations to provide support and community grants throughout the year.” Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 8 a.m., Jan. 28
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 8 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. As part of the festivities, the Pride Choir from nearby Weller Elementary School will perform the national anthem and Weber will cut the ribbon to the grocery area. Throughout the day, customers will be able to enjoy character appearances, product samples 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.walmartstores.com or www.walmartfoundation.org. EDITOR’S NOTES
• Store Manager Mildred Weber is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. She can be reached at 417-865-4545. FACT SHEET
Springfield Walmart Supercenter Store facts - Location: 1923 E. Kearney, Springfield, Mo.
- Originally opened in 1978
- 184,212-square-foot Walmart Supercenter
- Grand opening celebration 8 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 28
- Store manager: Mildred C. Weber
Store features - Full line of groceries, bakery goods, deli foods, frozen foods, meat and dairy products, fresh produce
- More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, outdoor living center with drive-through accessibility, health and beauty aids, and a full line of electronics
- Convenience services include a pharmacy, digital photo processing center, Walmart Connect Center, Tire and Lube Express and Walmart MoneyCenter.
- Leased areas in the store include a SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, a Subway restaurant and a Bank Midwest branch
- The store has a daylight harvesting system, which uses skylights to refract daylight throughout the building and light sensors to monitor the amount of natural light available. The store also features energy-saving LED refrigerated case lighting, and its stained concrete floors are made with recycled materials.
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Charitable giving
$15,000 in charitable contributions to six area organizations - City of Springfield Police Department
- City of Springfield Fire Department
- Fair Grove Elementary School
- Good Samaritan Boys Ranch
- Ozarks Food Harvest
- Weller Elementary School
Employment - Store plans to employ approximately 400 associates, including 100 new positions created by the expansion
- Twelve associates have worked at the store since its original opening in 1978.
- Fifteen associates have worked for Walmart for 20 years or longer.
- Store Manager Mildred C. Weber began her Walmart career in 1985 as a cashier in Bartlesville, Okla.
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Missouri is $11.17 per hour.*
- 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 December 2008. See www.walmartstores.com for details. For more information - Store manager: Mildred Weber, 417-865-4545
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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