PORT ANGELES — Leading up to the moment the doors slid open at the new Walmart Supercenter in Port Angeles on Wednesday, the festivities resembled a pep rally.
The band played.
Cheers broke out.
The crowd chanted.
Dancers performed.
And speakers got the crowd riled up.
About 300 people, including performers, attended the ceremony at 7:30 a.m. at the new store at 3471 E. Kolonels Way, the site of the former Kmart.
After performing a couple of numbers, the Port Angeles High School band and dance team broke into a chant of “Sell, Walmart, sell” and later, “W-A-L-M-A-R-T.”
The store replaces a smaller Walmart store, built in 1996, which was across the street on U.S. Highway 101.
That building, which is about 130,000 square feet, closed its doors for the final time at 7 p.m. Tuesday and is now up for sale.
The new Walmart opened to customers after the ribbon was cut at about 7:30 a.m. and will be open 24 hours daily.
When the Port Angeles Ambassadors sliced the ribbon, Richard Leonard was the first through the door.
Leonard of Port Angeles camped out at the door of the new store at 3 a.m., hoping to be the first customer through the doors.
“I wanted to be first at something for once in my life,” he said.
“I wanted it to be something big that I would make sure and remember.
“I got lucky and was first here.”
He planned to check out weight plates for his weightlifting system once he got inside.
“I think this is a really good thing — all the support that they have with all the people and the stuff going on,” he said.
“I hope it can help people enrich their lives and give them something to do in Port Angeles.”
Later, however, Leonard said he was disappointed to find out that he didn’t receive anything for being the first at the Walmart.
“It is just bad policy — not just for me, but in general,” he said.
Leonard may have been the first customer inside the store, but Damian Humphreys and his daughter, Morgan, of Sequim were angling to be the first customers through the checkout.
Purchasing a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and Snickers bar, the first sale for the store was Humphreys’ $2.17 buy.
“Our target was to be the first people to buy something,” Damian Humphreys said.
“I’ve always been a big supporter of Walmart.
“They have a lot of good things that they do, and a lot of people don’t give them the credit they deserve.”
He planned to go back through the store to pick up necessities after swooping up the first customer spot.
“We knew that the candy would be right by the register, so we went right for that,” he said.
Becky McDonald, store manager, said she was excited for herself and her more than 300 employees.
“This is an amazing opportunity, and I thank the community for allowing us to come here,” she said.
Tom Etchells, market manager, thanked not only the employees of the new Walmart, but also those of area Walmarts who have been filling in while employees operated one store while preparing the new one to open.
“Are you ready to spend some money?” he shouted to the crowd, which clapped in response.
After customers flooded inside, City Manager Kent Myers and Deputy Mayor Don Perry spotted each other across the store.
“It is so huge,” Myers called out to Perry, waving his hands to demonstrate the expanse of the 181,000-square-foot building — about 52,000 square feet larger than the older one.
Myers, who hails from Arkansas, the state where Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is headquartered, said the grand opening was the largest he had ever seen.
“And I’ve been to a few of these,” he said.
Lola Sanchez of Port Angeles said she had come to the store to check out what it offered.
As she picked up groceries for the week, she also was glad for a few surprises.
“I was excited to see there was a hair salon in there,” she said
“That will be very good for me.”
Bob Rouleau said he thought the store looked good but was unsure of the merchandise.
“Everything is bright and shiny and new,” he said, “but the produce was not that good . . .”
Despite his reservations, he did pick up a few necessities.
The company awarded several grants to local agencies, with Serenity House receiving the top award of $25,000.
“We are so appreciative of your support of what we do,” said Candice Burkhardt, a Serenity House board member.
Other organizations that received donations, and the grant amounts, are:
• Port Angeles High School Reserve Officers’ Training Corps — $1,350.
• Olympic Peninsula Humane Society — $500.
• Soroptimist International Port Angeles — Jet Set — $500.
• Port Angeles High School marching band — $500.
• Port Angeles High School dance team — $500.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
