Scarborough Walmart Adds Grocery and Expanded Merchandise Selection
New Store Brings 200 Additional Jobs to Scarborough SCARBOROUGH, Maine, April 23, 2009 – The wait is over for residents in Cumberland County eager to see their relocated Walmart, bringing savings on a full line of groceries, expanded departments and a wide assortment of new products and services. The Supercenter, now located at 500 Gallery Blvd., will celebrate its grand opening with a brief ceremony at 7 a.m. Wednesday and open to customers at 7:30 a.m. “We are proud to help our community by saving families money, bringing area residents good jobs and having a positive economic impact,” said Store Manager Jeffrey Vaillancourt. The new store will employ approximately 450 associates, including more than 200 new positions created by the relocation. More than 13 associates have worked at the Scarborough store since it originally opened in 1992. The Scarborough Walmart was the first Walmart store in the state of Maine. New Store Designed to Improve Customer Experience
The store gained more than 114,000 additional square feet with the relocation and now offers local shoppers a full line of groceries. “Our relocation allows us to offer our customers additional savings on the products they need and want,” said Vaillancourt. “In addition to a full line of groceries, we’ve expanded our merchandise selection and added time-saving services.” The new store features wider aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers than ever before. It will also be among the first new stores to feature the new Walmart logo and the latest in the company’s store design. The store’s layout is designed to make shopping easier, including wider aisles that contain no product displays. Walmart also aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. The pharmacy, for example, is adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries. “The layout of the stores is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Vaillancourt. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase including health and beauty and pet supplies, we are making one-stop shopping even easier.” Walmart also combined the customer service desk, Site-to-Store pick-up location and photo lab in one area near the entrance. Customers now have easy access to these services, as well as associates on hand to help meet their needs. Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Scarborough store, like all new Walmartludes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s 222 skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. The cement used in the concrete flooring includes recycled materials, and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The store also operates a recycling program and will promote the purchase of sustainable products. Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
The newly relocated Walmart is continuing its support of the area by giving $10,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to local organizations. That support includes a $3,000 grant to the Wayside Soup Kitchen for its food bank and other hunger-relief efforts. Recipients of $2,000 grants are Scarborough High School, the Scarborough Police Department and the Scarborough Fire Department. The high school will use its grant for supplies and equipment for alternative education. Thanks to the grants, the police department will further its DARE program and the fire department will be able to purchase thermal imaging equipment. Portland West will also receive a $1,000 grant to aide its disadvantaged youth outreach. “In addition to grants from the Walmart Foundation, we’ve supported community charitable efforts for years by hosting fundraisers, providing volunteers, and giving in-kind merchandise donations,” said Vaillancourt. “We think of them as our partners and consider it a privilege to support the good work they do in our community.” Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7 a.m., April 29
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. A color guard from the National Guard will present the colors and long-term Walmart associates will join Vaillancourt to cut the ribbon to the new store. Customers will be also able to enjoy character appearances, product samples and giveaways throughout the day. 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. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (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. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com. Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com. EDITOR’S NOTES - An invitation-only open house for grant recipients and other VIPs is scheduled for 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26th. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
- Store Manager Jeffrey Vaillancourt is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 207-885-5567.
FACT SHEET
Scarborough Walmart Supercenter Store facts - Location: 500 Gallery Blvd, Scarborough, Maine
- Originally opened in 1992 at 451 Payne Road
- 208,000-square-foot Walmart, gaining an additional 114,000 square feet
- Store opens at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 29, following a 7 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Store manager: Jeffrey Vaillancourt
- Open 6 a.m. to midnight., seven days a week
Store features - Full line of groceries including a bakery, deli, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, beer and wine
- More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and a full line of electronics
- Convenience services include a pharmacy, digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
- Leased areas and services include a Dunkin Donuts restaurant, SmartStyle Family Hair Care salon and a branch of Five County Credit Union.
Charitable giving - $10,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations
- Wayside Soup Kitchen
- Scarborough Police Department
- Scarborough Fire Department
- Scarborough High School
- Portland West
Employment - The new store plans to employ approximately 450 associates, including 200 positions created by the relocation.
- Thirteen of the store’s associates have worked at the Scarborough store since it originally opened in 1992.
- The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Maine is approximately $12.03 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 February 2009. See www.walmartstores.com for details. For more information - Store manager: Jeffrey Vaillancourt, 207-885-5567
- Walmart information online: www.walmartstores.com; merchandise sales: www.walmart.com
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