LITCHFIELD -- Love it or hate, one thing is certain. The impending opening this Wednesday of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Litchfield is generating lots of buzz in the community.
"It's something different for us,'' said Litchfield Mayor Vern Madsen, explaining how the store is the focus of much discussion in the community. "We've never had a store this big before.''
The 156,755-square-foot store opens its doors with a grand opening at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at its 2301 East Frontage Road address on the city's east edge alongside U.S. Highway 12.
Tonight, the store will hold a "preview night'' for its associates and their families, as well as invited community guests and media.
The store will highlight its commitment to the community by awarding grants to organizations in the community. The company has provided $33,000 in charitable contributions to Meeker County organizations, according to information provided by Wal-Mart corporate headquarters.
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The new super store will feature groceries, meat and dairy products, fresh baked and deli goods, a nail saloon, tire and lube service and a Subway restaurant, in addition to the full line of electronics, clothing and other retail goods offered by the nation's largest retailer.
The store will not be open 24 hours. Its hours are currently slated at 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, said manager Beth Pascoe. The hours were set by the company based on its assessment of the local market, she said. There has been a rumor that the city of Litchfield does not allow 24-hour retail operations, but that is not true, said Mayor Madsen.
He said the store has generated some uncertainty among those who wonder how it might affect other retailers in the community. Overall, he believes most consumers in the community are looking forward to its opening.
From an economic development standpoint, the mayor believes the store will increase the community's overall retail sales. He believes it will attract more consumers from neighboring communities and pull in more highway traffic.
Like many others, Madsen also believes the store will keep more local shoppers at home. Until now, Litchfield area residents who wanted to shop at a Wal-Mart have mainly been going to the store in Hutchinson, he said.
Along with the retail activity, the store creates 270 new part-time and full-time jobs in the Litchfield community. All of the associates for the new store have been hired, according to the store's manager. Pascoe said the labor market in the Litchfield area is tighter than in some areas, and consequently the store did not see as many applicants. However, the "quality'' of the applicants was better, with more of the job seekers offering retail and other experience, she said.
Pascoe has served as an assistant manager and co-manager of Wal-Mart stores in Yankton, S.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D., for 11 years. She took on her position in Litchfield in April.
She is looking forward to the store's opening. It's impossible to know how many shoppers will be at the doors at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, but Pascoe said she is optimistic that the store's opening will be a big one.
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Its arrival in Litchfield has come with the support of the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce. "Having Wal-Mart makes our community more attractive to businesses looking at locating or expanding here,'' said Dee Schutte, Litchfield Chamber of Commerce executive director in a news release announcing the store's opening. She believes the Supercenter will bring in new spending to the community.
