Neighborhood Market Adds Economic Spark to South Mountain Park

New store reflects energy of revitalized area, adds more than 80 new jobs

PHOENIX, July 2008 – A revitalized area of Phoenix will welcome a new Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, bringing easy and convenient shopping and more than 80 planned new jobs to the local community. The store is located at 2435 E. Baseline Road and will celebrate its opening Wednesday, July 23.

“Wal-Mart is a valuable community partner in the South Mountain/ Laveen area,” said Steve Glueck, chairman and CEO of the South Mountain Chamber of Commerce. “This new store will provide convenient, local retail choices and new jobs for our growing South Mountain Area. We look forward to establishing a great new partnership with the Neighborhood Market, management and staff.”

“It’s exciting to be a part of the revitalization in this part of the valley,” said Store Manager Bill Huckaby. “We believe that this store will really benefit the community, especially by creating new jobs.”

Store Opening Brings 80 New Jobs
The store plans to employ more than 80 associates and the majority of the positions are full-time. The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is $10.83 per hour.*

“We know how important these new jobs are to the local community and we are proud to have more than 80 new associates join our team,” said Huckaby. “Working for Wal-Mart is more than a job, it is a great opportunity to build a career.

Eligible full- and part-time associates at Wal-Mart can take advantage of Wal-Mart benefits, which include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Wal-Mart 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.

Food Products Reflect Community
The store will carry a full line of groceries, including produce, deli and bakery items, meat and frozen foods. A large selection of Hispanic foods will be available, including salsas and other products by Marquez Brothers, which has a facility in Phoenix.

In addition to groceries, customers can shop for health and beauty aids, and cosmetics will be displayed on distinctive curved counters. A photo kiosk, beer and wine sales and a pharmacy with two drive-through lanes will also be available.

The 39,690-square-foot store is conveniently located just five miles from the Mormon Trail entrance to South Mountain Park, the nation’s largest city park. Visitors to the park can now stop by the store to stock up on food and supplies for picnics and hiking trips along the park’s many trails. The store will be open from 6 a.m. until midnight daily.

Grand Opening Grants Support Community Groups
In celebration of the grand opening, the new store will give a total of $21,500 in grants from the Wal-Mart Foundation to area organizations. Several of the grants will be given to organizations that support education and enhance job skills training such as the Arizona Opportunities Industrialization Center.

“Our program offers job training programs to people who face significant barriers in finding jobs. High school dropouts, teenage parents and those who are homeless are just a few examples. Homeless veterans in particular need our help. This grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation will help us provide job skills training to more than 200 youth and homeless veterans in our community,” said Arizona Opportunities Industrialization Center. President and CEO Gene Blue.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix will receive a grant for $5,000 to fund an after-school adolescent literacy program, an initiative that Wal-Mart has supported nationwide.

Environmentally Friendly Features Save Water and Energy
The new Phoenix store has many environmentally friendly features that reduce energy consumption and minimize waste. For example, water flow and consumption in the store’s bathrooms are regulated through low-flow toilets and urinals. These features can make a real difference in dry areas like Phoenix where water conservation is crucial. Turbines in the faucets actually generate the electricity that powers those sensors.

LED lighting throughout the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting and the store’s concrete floor is made with recycled materials. The new store is also committed to offering products that are affordable and sustainable.

Activities Planned for Grand Opening Day
Grand opening day will begin with a brief ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Pastor Caleb Crooms of the Desert Valley Church of God will lead the invocation and a local unit of the United States Marine Corps will present the colors. Glueck and other South Mountain Chamber of Commerce representatives will cut the ribbon to officially open the store. Throughout the day, customers can take advantage of product giveaways and samples.