Walmart Brings Savings and Convenience to Villa Park

Expanded Walmart provides 85 new jobs, full line of groceries, savings on wide selection of merchandise

VILLA PARK, Ill., June 27, 2012 – A newly expanded Walmart opens this month in Villa Park, bringing 85 new jobs, savings for local shoppers and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy. Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Villa Park Walmart, located at 900 State Route 83, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, June 27.

Villa Park Village President Thomas Cullerton appreciates Walmart’s commitment to the community and says that Walmart has built a loyal base in Villa Park. “The grand opening will be great for both the Village and local shoppers. The 30,0000-square foot expansion adds 85 new jobs and increases the Village’s sales base while offering greater value and savings for local area shoppers,” he said. “The layout will be improved and will save customers both time and money in shopping for groceries and general merchandise and Walmart continues to be a great business partner as Villa Park welcomes new business investments,” added Cullterton.

The new Villa Park Walmart will employ approximately 300 total associates, according to store manager Yolanda Ballard, including 85 new positions created by the expansion. Ballard began her Walmart career in 2010 as a manager in training at the Northlake store. Six associates have worked for Walmart since the store originally opened in 1992, five associates have worked for Walmart for 10 years, and one is a 25-year associate.

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 Villa Park Walmart, with fast service, and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers.

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

The store now offers customers a complete grocery department, including a bakery featuring custom cakes and artisan breads, deli, dairy, frozen food, a meat department and fresh produce. The pharmacy is now adjacent to health and beauty, making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their everyday needs.

Customers will also appreciate the new fabrics and crafts department, as well as the expanded electronics department featuring a wide selection of the latest consumer electronics and home entertainment. The department design includes hi-definition Blu-ray, video gaming and portable electronics. The digital photo lab is located in the electronics department and can produce posters, customized greeting cards, calendars and digital prints. In addition, customers now have easy access to these services, as well as associates on hand to help meet their needs.

A new department called Celebration Station has been added and will feature party supplies, greeting cards, balloons, helium tanks, cake supplies and gift wrap. Walmart also combined the customer service desk and Site-to-Store pick-up location in one area near the entrance.

Like all new Walmart stores, the Villa Park Walmart 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.

Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store also operates a recycling program, an organic waste recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.

Community and business leaders will join Walmart associates at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony. Cullerton, along with members of the Villa Park Chamber of Commerce, will be present for the grand-opening ceremony. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Color Guard will present the colors and a store associate will perform the national anthem.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 10,130 retail units under 69 different banners in 27 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com, and on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

• Location: 900 State Route 83, Villa Park, Ill.
• 150,000 square-foot Walmart
• Store opens Wednesday, June 27, following a 7:30 a.m., ribbon-cutting ceremony
• Store manager: Yolanda Ballard
• Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week starting June, 27

• Full line of groceries, including a bakery, a deli with meal solutions for moms, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, and beer and wine
• More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department
• Convenience services include a digital photo processing center and Walmart Connect Center
• Leased space includes a Subway restaurant.

• Store plans to employ approximately 300 associates, including 85 positions created by the expansion
• The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Illinois is approximately $12.85 per hour*
• Walmart’s benefit program is available to eligible full- and part-time associates and provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits including medical insurance with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers matching 401(k) contributions of up to 6 percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise for store associates, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.

* Average wage taken April 2012. See www.walmartstores.com for details.

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