State and local officials were on hand for the opening of the new Walmart Neighborhood Market this morning at 23rd and Metropolitan Avenue, Kansas City, Kan.
Among those attending were Kansas Secretary of Commerce Pat George, Mayor Mark Holland and Unified Government Commissioner Ann Murguia.
Up to 95 full-time and part-time jobs will be created by the new store, a Walmart spokesman said.
According to a Walmart spokesman, the new 42,000-square-foot store will carry a full line of groceries, including fresh produce, a bakery, a deli, rotisserie, organic foods, and will havae a pharmacy, health and beauty merchandise, pet and cleaning products and hardware and stationery. It also has a site-to-store service where other products may be ordered online from Walmart.com and delivered to the store for pickup.
The new store was built on a remediated EPA Superfund site and also addresses the issue of a lack of fresh produce and food products in the Argentine area of Kansas City, Kan.
“We’re looking forward to serving the residents of the Argentine community and surrounding areas,” said store manager Deryk Cogdill. “At Walmart, we believe it’s important that all our customers have convenient and affordable access to fresh and healthy groceries options so they can live better. This store will fill a major void in the retail landscape and significantly decrease the distance residents need to travel to access the groceries and merchandise they want and need.”
During the grand opening ceremony, an award was presented from the Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of their development of the former Kansas City Structural Steel Superfund site. The new Neighborhood Market anchors the 13-acre La Plaza Argentine center and is a result of a partnership between Walmart, local neighborhood groups and government entities.
“The Argentine Neighborhood Development Association and Walmart have built this bright future on cleanup of a once polluted site led by the EPA,” said Regional Administrator Karl Brooks. “This Neighborhood Market will provide a proud, vibrant community with a new source of affordable and healthy food in an urban food desert, offer good jobs, and remove an industrial eyesore. The jobs, the food, and the convenience are all possible thanks to a community taking an active role in helping EPA create a viable re-use scenario.”
Grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation were presented to area organizations, including Argentine Betterment Corporation, El Centro, Kansas City, Kan., Police Department and area schools.
Walmart has scheduled a “Big Family Welcome” celebration to meet the new store manager and enjoy face painting, cupcake decorating and free food samples, while supplies last, from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.
– Information from Walmart
