New Wal-Mart Supercenter Sparks Memorial Drive RevitalizationStore creates 425 planned new jobs and programs to assist local businesses
DECATUR, Ga., Feb. 29, 2008 – The new Wal-Mart Supercenter on Memorial Drive opens to the public with a grand opening ceremony at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 7. In addition to creating 425 planned jobs, the new store provides community support by hiring and training local residents, encouraging local and regional businesses to become suppliers, and partnering with chambers of commerce and other business development organizations. Wal-Mart chose the new store, located at 3580 Memorial Drive, as the site of one of several new stores nationwide to participate in the company’s Jobs and Opportunity Zone (JOZ) program, an initiative designed to deepen the company’s involvement in local communities and provide opportunities to local suppliers and small-business owners. DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson recognized the economic importance of the new Wal-Mart store to the city of Decatur. “Wal-Mart is a critical component in the redevelopment of the Memorial Drive area,” said Johnson. “You could feel the energy increasing throughout the construction process and with this grand opening we look forward to a surge of vitality as customers continue to come back to our area. Affordable retail shopping is a key amenity for the area and Wal-Mart fits that bill. Their presence will motivate others to invest in the area.” Jobs and Opportunity Zone Takes Impact Beyond Just Shopping The impact of the new Decatur Wal-Mart Supercenter goes beyond new jobs and shopping convenience. Through the Jobs and Opportunity program Wal-Mart will contribute $150,000 to area chambers of commerce and community organizations. “We’re honored to be working alongside local businesses in reestablishing the Memorial Drive area as a shopping destination for DeKalb County,” said Wal-Mart Store Manager Henry Greene. “Our store will offer shoppers the chance to save money, so they can live better.” One-Stop Shopping Convenience The new store features Wal-Mart’s newest design elements. Using input from local residents, the new Wal-Mart boasts a brick façade and extensive landscaping with a path to Avondale High School’s football stadium. More than 1,000 trees and shrubs have been planted around the store. Inside, customers will find stained concrete and hardwood flooring that lead to wider aisles and a more 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. According to Greene, the new 182,693-square-foot store offers general merchandise departments including health and beauty aids, home décor, fine jewelry, and a full line of accessories and apparel including. In addition, the store offers a market-style produce section, a bakery, a delicatessen, and frozen food, meat, and dairy sections. For added convenience, the Supercenter includes a vision center, a one-hour photo lab, a Wal-Mart Money Center and Connect Center. Additional leased space and services include a Regal Nail Salon and a Subway restaurant with an outdoor eating area. New Store Gives Back Locally In celebration of the grand opening the Memorial Drive Wal-Mart Supercenter will contribute $18,000 to local charitable and civic organizations in celebration of its grand opening. Some organizations receiving grants include NAACP, Oakhurst Recovery Program, Inc., Green Forest Community Development Corp., Stepping Out for Christ Ministries, Inc., Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, as well as several local schools. See page three for a full list of grant recipients. The store will provide grants and fundraising opportunities throughout the year to local organizations. Organizations interested in partnering with Wal-Mart on community efforts can contact the store to inquire about grants, matching grants and opportunities to raise dollars outside the store. Grand Opening Ceremony Details The store welcomes the community to attend its grand opening celebration at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 7. Rev. George Moore of St. Phillip A.M.E will begin the ceremony with an invocation. The celebrated Buffalo Soldiers will present the colors and a Wal-Mart associate will sing the national anthem. DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones and other community leaders will assist Wal-Mart associates in cutting the ribbon, officially opening the new store. Other guests include the Avondale High School marching band. Additional activities planned during the grand opening event include a time capsule installation at a surprise location. The store design includes the time capsule in honor of the 1950s-era time capsule found during the demolition of retail space that previously occupied the current store geography. The new time capsule’s contents were determined by the local community and will be sealed by the DeKalb History Center for future generations. “Wal-Mart has been a good neighbor in all of the communities it serves,” said Melissa Forgey, director of the Dekalb History Center. “The contents of the previous time capsule were a remarkable find and I’m pleased to work with Wal-Mart to commemorate their ties to the residents of DeKalb County with the installation of a new time capsule in 2008.” About Wal-Mart Stores (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 Wednesday, March 5 beginning at 6 p.m. Preview tours will be provided and reporters and photographers are welcome. • Henry Greene, 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 404-284-0500. Statements and quotes on behalf of Wal-Mart should not be obtained from or attributed to agency employees. FACT SHEET
Memorial Drive Wal-Mart Supercenter Store Fast Facts • Location: 3580 Memorial Drive, Decatur, Ga. (DeKalb County) • 182,693 square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter • Store opens at 8 a.m., March 7, 2008 • Store manager: Henry Greene • Store Features • Merchandise offerings include 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 vision center, pharmacy, one-hour photo lab, Wal-Mart Money Center and a Connect Center • Additional leased space within the store: a Regal Nails Salon and a Subway restaurant with the only outdoor eating area in the company nationwide • Open to customers 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week Employment • Total planned employment of 425 associates. • The average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates in Georgia is $10.95 per hour.* • 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. Charitable Giving $18,000 in charitable contributions to 11 area organizations: • International Community School • Avondale High School • Midway Elementary School • Hooper Alexander Elementary School • NAACP • Breakthru House, Inc. • Oakhurst Recovery Program, Inc. • Green Forest Community Development Corp. • Stepping Out for Christ Ministries, Inc. • Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (East DeKalb Club) • Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (Samuel L. Jones Club) Jobs and Opportunities Funding: Through the Jobs and Opportunity program Wal-Mart will contribute $150,000 to Decatur-area chambers of commerce and community organization including: • DeKalb Chamber of Commerce • Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce • Mexican American Business Chamber • Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce • South DeKalb Business Association # # #
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