PORT ANGELES — When the first customers walk into the new Walmart Supercenter today, they will be treated with a smorgasbord of consumer items wrapped in a freshly painted 181,000-square-foot building.
From the eastern entrance, an aisle leads straight to a wall of glowing flat-screen TVs at the far end of the store, located at 3471 E. Kolonels Way.
The aisle is flanked by clothing on one side and kitchen appliances on the other.
To the left, a deli and the store’s produce section can be seen past the 24 checkout stands, each with their renewable and plastic bags ready for use.
Grand opening
The Supercenter, which will hold its grand opening at 7:30 a.m., is meant to be a one-stop shop for anything a household needs, said Becky McDonald, store manager.
McDonald said she expects the first day to go well for the new store, particularly since several eager customers have already stopped to see if it was open.
Across U.S. Highway 101 at the other, smaller Walmart, which closed its doors for good at 7 p.m. Tuesday, the enthusiasm didn’t appear to be lacking.
After grabbing a few last-minute deals at the former store, which is being replaced by the regional center, Port Angeles residents Wayne and Diane Svec said they wanted to be one of the first in the new building.
Wayne Svec said they are regulars at Walmart and joked that his wife practically lives there.
The Svecs said they are attracted by the low prices and friendly employees.
“It’s close to home, good prices and nice people,” said Diane Svec before rolling her new bike, the last at the store, back to her car.
Merchandise transfer
The former store was partially bare of merchandise Tuesday, but what’s left was to be taken to the Supercenter, McDonald said.
The Supercenter has everything the former store offered, except for tire and lube service.
In addition, it offers more groceries, including a produce section, a deli and bakery, plus a hair salon and Subway.
The new store employs about 300 people, which is about 85 more than the former store.
McDonald said all of the employees at the former store have been transferred to the Supercenter.
The old Walmart building was built in 1996.
It is about 130,000 square feet in size and is up for sale.
The Port Angeles High School marching band and dance team will perform during the Supercenter’s grand opening celebration today.
The high schools’ Reserve Officers’ Training Corps will also present the colors.
Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and representatives of the city of Port Angeles are expected to attend.
Clallam Transit buses will not stop in the parking lot of the Supercenter as it did at the previous Walmart.
The buses will instead stop at the intersection of the highway and Kolonels Way.
Terry Weed, Clallam Transit general manager, said the move was made to reduce wait times along Route 30 from Port Angeles and Sequim and avoid safety problems that navigating a bus through a parking lot create.
Paratransit vans will still pull up to the entrance, he said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
