The company and the municipality are positive about the impact the new store will have.
With a cheer from employees and the clip of a red ribbon, the grand opening of Port Elgin’s new Walmart Super Centre was made official.
Over 100 staff, customers, and dignitaries gathered for the event, including the choir from North Port Elementary School which sang O Canada.
The Super Centre, which includes a full grocery store with fresh meat and produce is one of 56 stores of its kind across Canada.
Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith says the community and municipality have been anticipating the store for a long time and he believes it will be a great addition.
Walmart has donated over 14 thousand dollars to local community groups. They include North Port Elementary School, the Red Cross, and Salvation Army. Staff have also collected items for local food banks and provided a Christmas hamper for a family.
Smith says Walmart will impact some local businesses, but he believes it will draw more people to town who will also shop at those places.
He says locally-owned businesses that want to provide good service will prosper.
Wal-Mart District Manager Ron Clark says the company’s strategy is to develop super centre stores in any community where it is possible.
He says by-laws in some municipalities restrict the number of grocery stores.
Clark says they’re always looking for ways to improve their stores and the Port Elgin location is no exception.
He says enhancements have been made to the fresh food departments and energy conservation in the building.
The Port Elgin store was open for business with a “soft” opening last Saturday.
Clark says it showed that local residents accepted Walmart quickly and the Port Elgin location did more business than some larger stores in the Toronto area.
Staff from 11 other Walmart stores and from the company’s home office in Mississauga have been working at the Port Elgin store to help it get up and running.
160 full and part-time staff work at Port Elgin’s new Walmart Super centre.
Join 98 the Beach with Shannon Snoes as she broadcasts live from the new super centre this Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
