Perris, CA, June 23, 2014 – Perris City officials and Walmart representatives came together today to break ground on the new Walmart Supercenter planned for the City, beginning construction on the new store, which will provide convenient, one-stop shopping for Perris residents. The new store will see the addition of fresh groceries, including fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, a deli and a bakery. Representatives from the Perris City Council and the Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce were in attendance for the ceremony, as well as community residents.
“I’m proud to see Walmart continuing to invest in our community,” said Mayor Daryl Busch. “Walmart has proven to be a good partner both through helping residents save money and through supporting our community organizations in the City of Perris.”
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site of the future store on the west side of Perris Boulevard just north of Nuevo Road. The new store, which is expected to open next year, will be about 184,000 square feet and will feature a full grocery department, general merchandise, a garden center and a full-service pharmacy.
The store is being built as part of a new shopping center, the Perris Marketplace, which will also feature small retail and restaurant options, providing new shopping and dining options for residents. Once opened, the store will replace the current Perris Walmart store. This is the first major retail development, of what the City hopes is many, since the end of the “Great Recession.” The sales tax revenues from Walmart and the rest of the new Perris Marketplace retail development will help the City pay for an array of important services, such as parks, streets and public safety.
“Walmart is looking forward to expanding our offerings in the Perris community,” said Brenda Boone, store manager for the current Perris location. “With this new store, residents will have access to fresh food and groceries in their local store, as well as a higher quality shopping experience. It will become a true one-stop-shopping destination.”
Opened in 1992, the current Perris store was the first Walmart in Riverside County and has since held an important role in the community. Nonprofit organizations have benefitted over the years from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support of community projects. As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, Walmart supports organizations and events such as Sky View Elementary, Friends of the Perris Library and the Perris Veteran’s Day Parade. As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, grants were given to the new Boys & Girls Club of Perris, Eagles Wings Community Outreach Center and the Riverside County Deputy Sheriff Relief Foundation, which is a nonprofit charity created by the Riverside Sheriffs’ Association to assist law enforcement members and their families facing life-changing crises.
“As a new organization, the Boys & Girls Club of Perris is pleased to partner with Walmart,” said Jackie Ramos, Chief Executive Officer of the nonprofit organization. “The funds we receive will go directly to support the youth in our City through afterschool and activity programs. This will help us to provide educational, enriching experiences for the youth and open the door to a great future.”
When completed, the store will add 85 new associate
jobs, in addition to the 215 jobs at the current store that will transition to
the new store when it opens next year. As of February 2014, the average wage
for regular, full-time hourly associates in California is $13.11 per hour.
Eligible associates receive a comprehensive benefits package that
provides up-front cash to pay for eligible medical expenses, the potential to
receive income today through store performance-based bonuses, and the matching of 401(k)
contributions
up to 6 percent. Health care coverage is available for as little as $9.20
per week, and associates also receive a 10 percent merchandise discount.
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 11,302 stores under 71 banners
in 27 countries and ecommerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2014
sales of over $473 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.
About City of Perris
The City of Perris lies in the heart of southwest Riverside County and
is a diverse, family and business-friendly community of nearly 80,000
residents. Founded in 1911 as an agricultural hub, Perris today has transformed
itself into a community that boasts businesses from mom-and-pop stores to
aerospace companies. Conscious of its historical past, the City of Perris has
restored and preserved many of its architecturally significant buildings while
developing world-class recreational opportunities that include aquatics,
baseball, soccer, auto racing, skydiving, and train and trolley rides.