Walmart Neighborhood Market opens

A new Walmart Neighborhood Market opened Jan. 28 at the Valleydale-Caldwell Mill Road intersection. Grand opening activities, include a 7:30 a.m. ribbon cutting and presentations of grants to area charities.

The store will also hold a Big Family Welcome Jan. 31 to give customers a chance to meet store manager Jeremy Crook and partake in face painting, cupcake decorating and free food samples. The Saturday celebration will be from noon-3 p.m.

Along with the pharmacy, groceries and select household items that are traditionally sold at the neighborhood Walmarts, the new location put about 95 associates to work. 

“In addition to the benefits to our customers, our small format stores also benefit the communities in which they’re located by generating additional tax revenue, stimulating new investment and economic growth, and providing jobs with the opportunity to build a career,” said Walmart spokesperson Amanda Henneberg. 

The Walmart Neighborhood Markets were designed in 1998 for communities in need of a closer proximity pharmacy and grocery store. Today there are about 340 Neighborhood Markets nationwide that feature a bakery and deli as well as gas fueling centers. 

“Many factors go into the decision to choose a location for a new Walmart store, but the main consideration is meeting the needs of our customers,” Henneberg said. “We look for areas where we can offer customers a greater selection of merchandise, convenience and affordability than they had before. We have a great customer base in the [Birmingham] area, and we are looking to provide them with even more convenient shopping options.”