Walmart Returns to St. Bernard Parish

Chalmette store provides 350 jobs, offers savings and convenience

CHALMETTE, La., Jan. 24, 2010 – St. Bernard Parish residents will celebrate the return of Walmart in early February as the retailer re-opens its store in Chalmette.The store brings 350 jobs, savings on a full line of groceries, an expected increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy and ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 8101 W. Judge Perez Drive, will open to customers at on Wednesday, Feb. 3, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m.

“This store offers much more than a convenient place to shop for our customers,” said Jim Craddock, store manager. “Walmart’s return to Chalmette is a symbol of this community’s resilience and its commitment to recover after Hurricane Katrina. We are excited about helping rebuild St. Bernard Parish and being of service to residents in surrounding areas.”

Originally opened in 1986, the store moved in June 2005 to its current location. Two months later on Aug. 29, 2005, the store, along with much of St. Bernard Parish and the greater New Orleans area, sustained substantial damage due to Hurricane Katrina.

Local officials are enthusiastic about Walmart’s return to St. Bernard Parish. “We are extremely excited about the much anticipated re-opening of Walmart. This is important not only for the financial support of the parish but also the enthusiasm of our residents’ shopping convenience,” said Parish President Craig Taffaro Jr.

Economic Impact Includes 350 New Jobs
The new Chalmette Walmart will employ approximately 350 associates, according to Craddock. Fifteen of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. More than 100 associates who were working at the store prior to Hurricane Katrina have returned to work at the new store.

Store Designed to Improve Customer Experience
In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Chalmette Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores.

The new 174,614-square-foot Walmart has a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Walmart aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. Walmart 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.

“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Craddock. “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.”

A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly.

Community Organizations Benefit from 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 grand-opening celebration. The grants will support rebuilding and recovery efforts within St. Bernard Parish, including helping replace equipment for the parish fire department, sheriff’s office, animal control and library. Recipients also include Chalmette High School and St. Bernard Middle School. The First Baptist Church of Chalmette will receive a grant to support its community food pantry.

Store Design Incorporates Environmentally Friendly Features
The Chalmette Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s 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 is made with 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 new store also operates a recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.

Ribbon-Cutting Celebration 7:30 a.m., Feb. 3
Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Walmart associate Janay Smith will perform the national anthem, and Brother John Jefferies from the First Baptist Church, will offer the invocation. Parish President Taffaro and other local officials will help Craddock cut the ribbon to the new store.

About Walmart
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart stores, 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 (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 $378 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com.

EDITOR’S NOTES

An invitation-only open house for grant recipients and other VIPs is scheduled from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31. It will include preview tours and check presentations to representatives of community organizations. Reporters and photographers are welcome.
Store Manager Jim Craddock is available for interviews and to arrange photo opportunities or tours. He can be reached at 504-278-2331.

FACT SHEET
Chalmette Walmart

Store facts

Location: 8101 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, La.
174,614-square-foot Walmart
Store opens on. Wednesday, Feb. 3, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m.
Store manager: Jim Craddock
Open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week

Store features

Full line of groceries including a bakery, a deli serving fresh food and meal solutions for moms, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and beer
More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
Convenience services include a pharmacy, digital photo processing center, Walmart Connect Center, and a MoneyCenter
Leased areas and services include SmartStyle Family Hair Salon, Regal Nails salon, Subway restaurant and a branch of Woodforest National Bank. A Murphy USA fuel station is located in front of the store.

Charitable giving

$15,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation to the following area organizations
- Chalmette High School
- First Baptist Community Food Pantry
- St. Bernard Middle School
- St. Bernard Parish
- St. Bernard Parish Animal Control
- St. Bernard Parish Fire Department
- St. Bernard Parish Library
- St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office

Employment

Store plans to employ approximately 350 associates
The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Louisiana is approximately $11.56 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 January 2010. See www.walmartstores.com for details.

For more information