The Wal-Mart Foundation will present $8,000 in grants during the grand opening celebration, with the funds being distributed to the Capt. Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library, Dacusville Middle School, the Easley Fire Department, the Easley Police Department, Easley High School, Hospice of the Upstate, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Prevent Child Abuse - Pickens County, according to Katie M. Johnston, a spokesperson for the company
The store will open at 8 a.m. following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.
It will bring about 200 new jobs to the area, along with offering fresh look and larger store, which will include a full line of groceries, bakery, expanded deli, meat and dairy products, fresh produce, and beer and wine.
“Our city is eagerly awaiting the opening of our ‘new look’ Walmart here in Easley, especially with the addition of 200 new jobs and the services it will provide,” Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell said.
Bagwell said that Wal-Mart has been a vital part of the Easley economy since 1981.
“With its friendly people and atmosphere, Wal-Mart has helped make the city of Easley a great place to live,” he said. “We look forward to our continued relationship at their new location.”
Wal-Mart officials say that in recent months, they have taken major steps to refreshen its stores, merchandising and customer experience.
The new store in Easley features enhance service and layout design to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. For example, the pharmacy is adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries.
“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” store manager Lee Jolly said.
“By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase, including health and beauty and pet supplies, we are making one-stop shopping even easier,” he said.
The store will also have an expanded electronics department and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The new location will employee a total of 400 employees, including those already working at the old Easley location. Nearly 70 of the current Wal-Mart employees have worked for the company for more than 10 years, and 14 have worked for them for more than 20 years, according to Johnson.
And four employees have been at the Easley store since its original opening in 1981, she said.
During the April 13 ribbon cutting, local recording artist Katie Rogers will perform, and other events are scheduled to continue through the store’s opening weekend.
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