Chicago’s First Walmart Neighborhood Market Brings Convenience, Savings to West Loop
Multi-format approach continues with 27,000 sq.-ft. store focused on groceries; Greek Town native to lead local management team
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL, Sept. 21, 2011 – Chicago’s first Walmart Neighborhood Market store opens today in the West Loop, continuing the retailer’s trend of opening multi-format stores here that reflect individual neighborhoods and address local customer needs. During a special ceremony in Presidential Towers at Monroe and Jefferson streets, corporate executives were joined by Alderman Robert Fioretti and community leaders to open the 27,000 sq.-ft. store that is focused on grocery and gives neighborhood customers easy access to low prices every.
“We think our store will be a destination for folks who live and work in the West Loop and want to save on fresh produce, prescriptions and household goods,” said Bill Skoufis, store manager, who has been with the company for 13 years and was born and raised in Greek Town. “My team and I look forward to working closely with the community to provide the best possible shopping experience for our customers.”
The West Loop Neighborhood Market is less than one-quarter of the size of the retailer’s large format store and will employ more than 100 associates. The first Walmart Neighborhood Market opened in 1998, and there are now about 155 across the country offering services and items such as: fresh produce; meat and dairy products; frozen foods; dry goods and staples; health and beauty aids; stationery and paper goods; pharmacy; deli and bakery items; and pet supplies.
“As we continue to evaluate opportunities to open stores across the city, we also will continue to be flexible in our approach to local communities,” said Julie Murphy, Senior Vice President of Midwest Operations for Walmart. “At the end of the day, we will work to bring neighborhoods across the city the right-sized store with the most relevant product mix, all to best serve customer needs.”
In addition to open stores in the West Loop, Chatham (Walmart Express) and Austin (Walmart Supercenter) in Austin, the company’s planned investment in Chicago calls for 7 additional new stores — 2 Walmart Supercenters, 2 Walmart Neighborhood Markets and 3 Walmart Express stores.
In June 2010, Walmart announced the “Chicago Community Investment Partnership,” a five-year plan to open several dozen stores, create approximately 10,000 jobs and 2,000 unionized construction jobs, generate more than $500 million in sales and property taxes, and develop charitable partnerships worth $20 million.
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About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at over 9,600 retail units under 69 different banners in 28 countries. With fiscal year 2011 sales of $419 billion, Walmart employs 2.1 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 Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.
