A new Walmart opens this month in Garner, bringing 350 new jobs, savings on a full line of groceries 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 new store, located at 5141 North Carolina Hwy. 42, will be open to customers at 8 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19.

The new Garner Walmart will employ approximately 350 associates, according to store manager Danny Davis. Approximately 20 associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years. Davis began his Walmart career in 1998 as an hourly sales associate at a store in Greenville.

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 South Garner 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.

“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” said Davis. “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.

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the communities in which it operates, $26,000 in grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand-opening celebration. The following organizations will each receive grants to support programs that serve the community: Able To Serve, Basic Needs Ministry, Clayton High School,

First in Families of North Carolina, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Johnston Community College Continuing Education, Neuse River Foundation and West Johnston High School.

The Garner Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s skylights harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.

The cement used in the concrete flooring is made with recycled materials, and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners. Low-flow toilets and faucets reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store also operates a recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.