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A large crowd of eager shoppers gathered early Wednesday morning to celebrate the opening of San Ramon’s first Walmart Neighborhood Market, which filled a vacant storefront at 9100 Alcosta Boulevard.
Walmart’s new Pleasanton Neighborhood Market will open at the site of the long-closed Nob Hill Supermarket in Pleasanton in mid-2013, Walmart said
Yesterday, the retail giant also simultaneously opened five other Neighborhood Market stores in the Central Valley, three of them in the Sacramento area.
All six stores opened yesterday had grand-opening festivities and a Walmart representative said job applications are still being taken for associate positions at its new markets.
In San Ramon, the ribbon-cutting ceremony started with store associates and local dignitaries participating in a brief ceremony, after which doors to the new store were opened to the public.
Walmart first opened its Neighborhood Markets in 1998 and now operates approximately 200 stores across the country.
The 50,000-square-foot San Ramon store will be open 24 hours day, 365 days a year and will feature self service deli and bakery, a full line of groceries, pharmacy and household items. The store will also offer a large number of Hispanic items.
Dan Wall has lived in San Ramon since 1979 and said he’d seen the neighborhood change many times. While perusing the sauce aisle, he added that he left home early Wednesday morning to make sure people weren’t protesting.
“I think it’s the right thing, it serves the community and I’m glad to see another store. I just didn’t want to see this be a big, overwhelming Walmart,” he said. “I think it’s a particle use for the neighborhood.”
Dublin resident Shirley Smith came to the opening after dropping her children off at school. Though she usually does large shopping at the Travis Air Force Base commissary, Smith said the Neighborhood Market would be her new go-to store.
“I like it. It’s not huge, but it has everything you need,” she said.
In addition to providing residents with another local grocery store, Walmart Foundation officials have $21,000 thousand dollars in grants to community organizations such as the Sentinels of Freedom, San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, and the police and fire departments.
“Whenever we open a store, we find out what charitable organizations are in the community and we invite them to apply (for a grant),” said Deborah Herron, Walmart public affairs. “We are pleased to be behind our schools and our children and our families in this way.”
The Walmart Foundation has a history of supporting veterans and senior organizations as well as city services, she added.
Grants ranged from $2,000 to $5,000 and will fund technology improvements at California High School, youth traffic and bicycle safety programs through the Police Department, among others.
San Ramon Senior Center’s Jackie Esse said her $5,000 grant will be put toward new dishes and silverware, which are currently mismatched donations.
“We have a lunch program Tuesday through Friday that that is now increasing,” Esse said, adding that funding will also support Meals on Wheels. “It would be very nice to eat off something attractive.”
At the conclusion of the ribbon cutting ceremony — which included Cal High cheerleaders performing the Walmart cheer — shoppers were invited inside for free samples and discounted prices. Store Manager Baltazar Garcia said the opening went well and that the store will have special promotions and product samples throughout the week.
The Neighborhood Market created 85 jobs in the city and no one protested the 7:30 a.m. opening.
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Photo by Jessica Lipsky -
The Walmart Foundation presented a $2,000 grant to the San Ramon Police Department, which will fund youth traffic safety programs. Photo by Jessica Lipsky -
The Walmart Foundation presented a $2,000 check to California High School Principal Mark Corti and cheerleader. Photo by Jessica Lipsky -
The 59,000 square foot store replaced Le Asia Market. Photo by Jessica Lipsky -
The 59,000 square foot store replaced Le Asia Market. Photo by Jessica Lipsky
There goes the neighborhood…
yes, jonass, there’s goes more local jobs to San Ramon, along with lower cost for grocery shoppers. Too bad this is not perceived as good news by those union parasites that just want to bleed the community dry.
Yep, there goes the neighborhood…
Dear former unionista, Why must you be so vulgar? You know, talk like that (Jonass) does reflect on your intelligence level.
However, most peoples objections to Wal-Mart are not the stores themselves but management. Because of Wal-Mart m-i-l-l-i-o-n-s of manufacturing jobs have gone overseas. And we now we get to enjoy brake pads made out of sawdust; dog treats that are killing our dogs; cheap fish that is destroying coastlines in South America; and Rx sources that are so bad no European country will buy from them.
So unionista, I too do not support unions but perhaps you will sing a different tune if you experience brake pads that crumble, your dog suffering in agony because of bad treats (chicken jerky) and your parent or child becoming ill from a bad Rx. Maybe then you will understand why Wal-Mart is so bad. It is not the stores, it is the management of the company that is detestable.
You say it isn’t the store’s fault but management’s. What do you mean by store’s fault? Like shelves and floors and ceilings an’ stuff? You mean if Walmart simply changed management the companies murderous practices would suddenly cease? Please, I so await your response.
p.s. Pay no heed to the jackal who spews his vulgarity routinely on these sites under various names. We’ve learned he’s got the intelligence and maturity of an 8 year-old. Somewhere along the line he broke his parents’ hearts.
Exactly why would you say “there goes the neighborhood?” What are you predicting? Increased city revenue, more choices for shopping, filling a previously vacant store…..and these things are presumably bad for San Ramon (and elsewhere)?
Face it, you union lemmings lost the battle against WalMart’s Neighborhood Markets…it’s time for you to move on. Maybe you could go picket in front of Fresh and Easy before they go out of business…….or, get a life.
The people who criticize Walmart are union members and union thugs. Walmart doesn’t use labor unions, so the people who are promoters of big labor unions make up things to criticize Walmart about. When you realize this, you’ll stop paying attention to the criticisms and lies.
There goes the neighborhood…
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