Wal-Mart celebrates grand re-opening, gives to local organizations

Thursday, May 28, 2009
Members of the community, Wal-Mart staff, Chamber of Commerce members and ambassadors, city officials, local community agencies and many others gathered at Wal-Mart Wednesday morning for a ribbon cutting celebrating the remodeling of the store.

It took a little more than three months to remodel the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Greencastle. The results are a store with a new layout, wider aisles, low-profile shelving, enhanced lighting and easy-to-read signs.

Wednesday morning the Supercenter celebrated the remodel with a grand reopening ceremony. They gave out over $8,900 in donations to local organizations during the event.

Those receiving funds included the VFW, Putnam County Museum, the Visitors and Convention Center, People Pathways, Relay for Life, Putnam County Youth Development and science teacher John Gardner for Greencastle High School. The grants came from the Wal-Mart Foundation.

"We believe in giving back to the community," said Wal-Mart Store Manager Cliff Higgerson.

Four Wal-Mart associates who have worked for the Greencastle store since it was opened in 1986 were recognized. Larry Goodman, Jody Funk, Brenda Stinson and Glenna Sutherlin were honored. Stinson was unable to attend.

When Wal-Mart representatives promised the parking lot would be repaired this summer, they got a round of applause.

"They have promised to get it done this summer and I know it won't be soon enough," smiled the representative.

Wal-Mart is located at 1750 E. Indianapolis Road. They can be reached at 653-1278.

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  • Its great that they are going to fix the parking lot, but it would also be nice if they made employees park further out. I have noticed that employees park very close to the store. those spots should be for customers.

    -- Posted by breezyville on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 8:15 AM
  • Walmart is hated in a lot of places, especially where unions operate with impunity. The unions have kept Walmart out of a lot of places. Walmart is a good company and they do a lot of good for the communities they operate in. We are fortunate to have Walmart here in Greencastle.

    -- Posted by not gullible on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 9:43 AM
  • I don't have any idea why they had to rearrange the whole store. Now noone can find anything, but that god the big holes in the parking lot are fixed!!

    -- Posted by cowgirlsrule on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 10:02 AM
  • Glad to hear about your remodel Iuse to work there....... cant wait to see the new store..

    -- Posted by Abby54 on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 10:02 AM
  • I think re-arranging everything so that no one can find anything is an idea from marketing. It increases consumer spendng two ways:

    1 - impulse buying.

    2 - one can now find the things they couldn't find before with the old design.

    I've been told that the customer service counter now has maps of where to find items. I checked with them last week and was told they would be ready by "Wednesday" (yesterday).

    I do like the wider aisles, just think it's going to take awhile getting used to.

    -- Posted by Scripted Spontaneity on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 10:29 AM
  • You cant find anything now but once you get used to it..you'll be fine. The Greencastle store now matches the layouts in Avon, Crawfordsville and all other new stores built in the last 3+ years, even in surrounding states.

    Basically, they are bringing Greencastle's store up to speed with the new stores. Dont be angry...yes you have to learn a new layout but it also means Greencastle is important to them and they are keeping the facility in line with newer stores.

    They had to paint the lines now to avoid accidents and liabilities with having no lines at all until they reach the re-paving date. Paint is still cheaper than lawyers.

    -- Posted by G-boy2008 on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 1:19 PM
  • You can have wider isles and lower profile shelving, because many of the products you used to carry aren't being carried any more.

    So far I'm missing:

    fabric and lots of sewing supplies; and

    about half the craft section; and

    my favorite fabric softener.

    And has anyone noticed that the prices have gone up on many of the items you still buy there?

    I'm sure I'll discover more over the next months.

    Yep. We've "Caught up" with newer Walmarts that don't carry that stuff anymore either and charge more for what they do.

    And as for "giving back"...Yes Walmart does give back, but they also take away.

    Take a good look at every small town Walmart is in and you'll see local store owners out of business and shops standing empty.

    Thank goodness we are getting some alternatives.

    But my favorite Walmart trademark I've reserved for last: all those empty and deserted buildings they leave behind when they build a new one...

    ... like the one here for years and the one Plainfield now. Repeated all over America.

    What's really interesting is that they really don't care about their customer's opinions. I wrote to voice my opinion on the closing and layaway and the removal of the fabric department and the reply I got was, basically, "get over it."

    I stay out of Walmart unless I absolutely have to go there. Thank you Headley's and Peebles and Sears and all the other places that give me an alternative.

    -- Posted by whatsup on Thu, May 28, 2009, at 9:25 PM
  • I do appreciate Wal-Mart and the giving back to the community and I feel they are a good neighbor but as for the re-model I wish they had not cut grocery products like they did. They downsized many items yet the cards , wrapping, electronics and such has expanded. Pet supplies, cleaning products and things like towels have lots more than before yet food items have vanished from the shelves, cookies, bread, soups have all down sized. I sure wish we had a third Grocery Store. I really miss Marsh (not LoBill).

    -- Posted by Trying hard on Fri, May 29, 2009, at 1:41 PM
  • The only reason people shop Wal-Mart is the one stop shopping. When they get off work it is easier to do all the shopping in one place. If they would have gotten the gas station liked they wanted we would have only 1 or 2 other gas stations in town. I too only go there as a last resort, crafts was being one of them, oh well, there loss is someone else's gain......in an an other town. Can someone tell me were to shop for craft stuff now? Things for school projects and neat things for kids to do?

    -- Posted by mad-mom on Mon, Jun 1, 2009, at 8:25 AM
  • Been in the newly remodeled store the past two Saturday evenings, between about 7 - 10 pm. Looks nice, however - with about 40 - 50 items on my list, (everything from health and beauty, to outdoor items, lawn and garden, plus groceries and cleaning supplies) They have either stopped carrying, or fail to stock about 15 items that I had been buying from them for 8-10 years. not weird little items, but stuff like smart-beat lactose free sliced cheese, a particular brand deodorant, etc. I couldn't even buy sevin dust for the garden because the 3 sqare foot section for it on the shelf was empty. The employee I asked was kind of 'oh well, we must be out' - How the heck do you run out of garden dust in MAY? Produce was not good (Kroger's was, but that's another story) Then, only 3 of the TWENTY-FIVE checkout lanes was open, not even a quick check line. 9 people in the line I was in.

    I made my decision. I have tried to embrace Wal-Mart, even the rude clerk who told me SHE is overworked because THEIR cutbacks). I am not naive enough to think I can avoid shopping there because they are the only carriers of certain items locally, however, I will do all of my primary shopping elsewhere. Headleys, Kroger, TSC, Dollar General. So I pay 10% more overall? For every $110.00 I spend somewhere else, Wal-Mart DOESN'T get $100. I have averaged about $125. per week - I'm going to try to get that down to $25. Mark me disappointed, Sam.

    -- Posted by countyboy on Mon, Jun 1, 2009, at 9:43 AM
  • I like walmart - it is a one stop shop.

    mostly anything you ask for they got it. if not, whoop de doo, they don't have it.

    quit complaining. Walmart will always be here.

    -- Posted by ec on Mon, Jun 1, 2009, at 3:33 PM
  • if wal-mart is so bad why are they so busy all the time

    -- Posted by familygirl on Tue, Jun 2, 2009, at 6:13 PM
  • i want a target!!!!

    -- Posted by ibeme on Tue, Jun 2, 2009, at 8:59 PM
  • I do agree that they no longer carry certain items now. I noticed that the clothing department does not have as much either. For those of us who are crafters, we miss the craft section that use to be there. That just forces us to shop at Michaels and Hobby Lobby, do they ever think of things like that? Maybe they make up the loss in other departments. I am all about change, but taking away stock is not a good thing. I will be supporting Kroger and some of the other stores in town, so I pay a little more, at least I am keeping it in Greencastle. Besides at Kroger if you use your plus card you save on gas!!!

    -- Posted by RDALERESIDENT on Wed, Jun 3, 2009, at 1:12 PM
  • Walmart is busy because there is not anywhere esle to shop in Greencastle. I shop for groceries at Kroger and I have even started buying laundry and cleaning supplies there. I prefer to spend a little more than to actively support Walmart.

    I prefer Target.

    -- Posted by citizenoftheworld on Fri, Jun 5, 2009, at 9:29 AM
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