The FINANCIAL — A new Walmart opens this month in Nashville, bringing 250 new jobs, savings for local shoppers and an increase in tax revenue to support the area’s economy.
Nonprofit organizations will also benefit from the retailer’s ongoing charitable contributions and support for community projects. The Walmart, located at 3458 Dickerson Pike, will be open to customers at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 21.
Economic Impact Includes 250 New Jobs
The new Nashville Walmart will employ approximately 250 associates, according to store manager Fatorma Siafa. Siafa is a native of Liberia who began his Walmart career in 1999 as an intern at a store in Shawnee, Okla.
Store Designed to Improve Customer Experience
In recent months, Walmart has taken major steps to refresh its stores, merchandising and customer experience. The improvements have all come together in the company’s newest stores, such as the Nashville Walmart, with fast service, a friendly shopping experience and clean stores.
"The new Walmart features wide aisles, enhanced service and a layout designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Walmart aligned the departments that customers shop most frequently. The pharmacy, for example, is adjacent to food making it easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions while shopping for their groceries," Walmart reports.
“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Siafa. “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.”
A bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly. Walmart also combined the customer service desk, Site-to-Store pick-up location and photo lab in one area near the entrance. Customers now have easy access to these services, as well as associates on hand to help meet their needs.
Community Organizations Benefit from Grand-Opening Grants
As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $19,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. Nashville Cares, Inc. will receive $5,000. The following organizations will each receive $2,000 to support programs that serve the community: Greenways for Nashville, Metro Nashville Police Department, Kipp Academy, Pearl Cohn Magnet High School and Hunters Lane Comprehensive High School. Maplewood Comprehensive High School, Friends of the Warner Parks, Bellshire Design Center School and the Young Men’s Christian Association will each receive $1,000.
“I am so thrilled that Walmart had the vision to locate a store within the 3rd Council District,” said Councilman Walter Hunt. “This vision by Walmart along with two other developments will create some 600 jobs in an area that have had very little development over the years. I want to congratulate Walmart and its staff of associates for making a difference in this area and I am happy to be a part of this development.”
