Lacey, Wash., (Feb. 5, 2014) – Today, Walmart announced plans for a Neighborhood Market small-format grocery store, to open in Lacey on a vacant lot near the corner of Yelm Hwy SE and Parkside Drive SE. Slated to open in early 2015, the store will bring fresh and affordable groceries to the area, a full-service pharmacy, and employ approximately 65 associates in the local community.
The approximately 42,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market will feature a wide variety of products, including fresh produce, meats and dairy products, frozen foods, dry goods, deli foods, bakery items, condiments and spices, pet supplies, household supplies, health and wellness products and a pharmacy.
First introduced in 1998, Walmart now operates about 300 Neighborhood Markets across the country, including three in Washington – in Vancouver, Bellevue and Lynnwood. The stores are between 30,000- and 60,000-square-feet in size, similar to traditional
grocery stores, and as anchor tenants, have had a positive impact on attracting other businesses. In 2013, one year after the building of a Neighborhood Market in Bellevue’s Kelsey Creek Shopping Center, the tenant occupancy rate increased from 92 percent to 98 percent, according to PMF Investments which owns the center.
“We’re proud to bring a new Walmart Neighborhood Market to the Lacey community. The store will offer a quick and convenient shopping experience for our Lacey shoppers, as well as good jobs and important tax revenues for the city
while attracting more local businesses,” said Madeleine Havener, vice president and regional general manager for Walmart. “We look forward to continuing our relationships with the community and serving our customers in the Lacey.”
The new Neighborhood Market will be the second store in Lacey for the company, joining the Walmart Supercenter located at 1401 Galaxy Drive NE near I-5 and Marvin Road. The company opened the Lacey Supercenter in 2002, and is proud to support local charitable organizations in and around Lacey for more than a decade now including the Arthritis Foundation, the TEARS Foundation, Care Net, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County and the Thurston County Food Bank.
"Walmart has been a remarkable partner for us in our mission to support kids during out of school time,” said Joseph Ingoglia, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County. “They have invested in our programs that educate young people about wellness and healthy lifestyles. Walmart has provided much needed funding that supports our staffing, which in turn allows us to implement programs that keep our Club members active and fit. Additionally, Walmart has made it a priority to provide healthy snacks and meals for our more than 2,600 kids who attend the Clubs here in Thurston County every year. They have been an exceptional partner here, and we are grateful for their commitment to our kids."
Nearly two-thirds of the Lacey Supercenter’s approximately 350 associates live in Lacey and Olympia, and in the last year alone associates from this store have volunteered 175 hours in the community at nonprofit organizations of their choosing which results in matching grants by the Walmart Foundation. Each summer, the store’s management team also volunteers with the City of Lacey to assist with clean up of the Lake Lois Habitat Reserve.
In addition to providing fresh and healthy food and general merchandise at Walmart’s famous Every Day Low Prices, the stores bring significant tax revenue to the cities where they operate, as well as quality jobs with competitive benefits and pay.
A temporary hiring center for the Lacey Neighborhood Market is anticipated to open late fall 2014 and will facilitate the hiring of approximately 65 associates. Associates will be needed to work in all areas of the store, including supervisory positions.
Construction of the new store is anticipated to support about 50-75 temporary contract construction jobs
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 health care coverage with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers eligible associates matching 401(k) contributions of up to six percent of pay, discounts on general merchandise, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, eligible associates receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.
Beginning Memorial Day 2013, Walmart committed to offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran within his or her first 12 months off active duty. Walmart projects that it will hire more than 100,000 veterans over the next five years. In addition, Walmart’s Military Family Promise guarantees a job at a nearby store or club for all military personnel, and military spouses, employed at Walmart and Sam's Club who move to a different part of the country if they or their spouse have been transferred by the United States military.
About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 245 million customers and members visit our 11,096 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2013 sales of approximately $466 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://corporate.walmart.com , 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.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 245 million customers and members visit our 11,096 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2013 sales of approximately $466 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://corporate.walmart.com , 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.
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