Renovations complete

Wal-Mart of Jefferson City celebrated the grand opening of the newly-remodeled store August 30 with a reception and ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Pictured in front, from left, are Robin Parker, Chamber Board; Kaci Anderson, Chamber Community Development Coordinator; Adele Sensing, Chamber Director of Tourism; Pam Springfield, County Mayor’s Office; Rebecca Miller, Wal-Mart; Karen Bible, Wal-Mart, retired; Joe Gibson, Wal-Mart Manager; Fred Taylor and Chris Cox, Wal-Mart management; Uli Correa, Wal-Mart East TN District Manager; Don Cason, Chamber President and CEO; and Paula Rugel Gibson, Rugel Church Manufacturing. In back, from left, are John Cagle, Chamber Board; Ray Cain, Jefferson City Council; Dale Gentry, David Haston and Bob Jarnagin, Chamber Board; and Mark Potts, Mayor, Jefferson City Mayor. (Staff photo - Ronnie Housley)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

Wal-Mart completes extensive remodeling project with Ribbon-cutting held Thursday, August 30, 2012

The store’s management team and associates were joined by community leaders as they officially marked completion of the third renovation since the Super Center opened on Highway 11-E in 1995.

“We are proud to be in Jefferson County. We plan to be here for many, many more years, and continue to work to improve the store,” said Manager Joe Gibson.

The multi-million dollar remodeling project included replacement of equipment, relocation and expansions of departments, painting and fresh decor throughout.

Gibson said all of the store’s coolers and freezers were replaced in the grocery section; the fabric and craft department was expanded into the former location of the shoe department; the shoe department was moved into the clothing department; the stationary and pet departments were expanded; and the candy section was moved to the front of the store.

“We didn’t close for one minute,” Gibson said, thanking associates and customers who may have had to come in a different door or go looking for an item temporarily in another location while work progressed.

Completion of the work coincides with Wal-Mart’s 50th anniversary as a company, and the 28th anniversary of Wal-Mart’s arrival in Jefferson City. Gibson gave a short history of the store in Jefferson City, noting that the current remodeling project is the third since the Super Center was opened, with the other two coming in 2001 and 2006.

As part of Thursday’s events, the store manager recognized 12 associates who have worked at Wal-Mart since its opening in 1984 at the old location in the shopping center near McDonald’s. They include Karen Booker, Carolyn Bates, Peggy Boyd, Donna Broughton, Deb Bull, Alan Evans, Paulette Gilmer, Becky Miller, Tammy Nicely, Fred Taylor, Chris Cox, and Linda Bible, who recently moved to Myrtle Beach but still works part-time for a Wal-Mart there.

Wal-Mart District Manager Uli Correa told the group that it was Sam Walton’s dream to save people money so they could live better when he founded the company in 1962. “That dream is still alive today in Jefferson City,” he said, adding that it is the hard work put in by employees every day that makes that dream come true for customers.

The average family that shops regularly at Wal-Mart saves about $3,000 a year on the things they use the most, Correa added.

“We want you to be proud of your store. We want you to call this ‘my Wal-Mart,’” he concluded.

Jefferson City Mayor Mark Potts said one of the first things he learned about Wal-Mart is that it gives back to the community. He commended the store for its progress, and said he and other city leaders look forward to a long partnership with the local retail store.

“It’s great to see Wal-Mart’s expansion, and its continued investment in the community,” Chamber of Commerce CEO Don Cason said.

He commended Wal-Mart for its support of the community – especially those programs like the adult and youth leadership classes, and the tnAchieves scholarship program, with which the Chamber is closely involved.

The expansion and growth of Wal-Mart fit right in with the goals of Building A Better Future (BABF), Cason added, by creating retail growth and jobs for the community.

County Mayor Alan Palmieri was unable to attend Thursday’s ceremony, but was represented by Pam Springfield from the mayor’s office. Gibson thanked Palmieri for being a longtime supporter, and customer, of the store.

Prior to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Gibson gave away several checks to community organizations, including:

• $500 to the Jefferson County Soil Conservation District, represented by Belinda Jones;

• $1,000 to the local Boys & Girls Clubs, represented by Josh Propst;

• $1,000 to the Dandridge Community Trust, represented by Tina Murrow;

• $1,500 to the Shiloh Riders Association, which works with the store in its annual Christmas toy drive that serves well over 1,000 children. The Riders were represented by Jim and Kelly Miscichoski and Art Schettini.

• $2,250 to tnAchieves, represented by Don Cason, John Cagle, Tina Murrow and Pam Springfield;

• $5,000 to Samaritan House, represented by Jean-Ann Washam.

Several lucky people in attendance also received football goody baskets or gas cards during a drawing at the end of the program.