Darlington Walmart ready to open May 11
Darlington Walmart manager Kevin Lane says the new store and its 220 employees are “fired up” and ready to go.
Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
With the clock ticking down to the May 11 grand opening of the Darlington Walmart, store manager Kevin Lane took a moment last weekend to give us a tour of the new store and reflect on the effort he and his 220 employees have given to turn an bare 122,000 square-foot warehouse into a buzzing beehive of retail activity.
“It’s been amazing,” Lane says of the build-out and stocking process. “Because we took something where there was nothing and we created all this. We did all this in five days.”
Lane gestures beyond the entry area, where rows of checkout registers sit silent and produce coolers rest empty, towards the heart of the store where neatly organized rows of everything from barbecue sauce to flatscreen televisions are arrayed, ready for shoppers to discover.
So proud was Lane of his people that he documented their progress in a series of photos, tracking the store’s growth from empty shell to cornucopia. He says all those new Walmart associates are proud of themselves, too, and more than ready for opening day.
“They are fired up,” says Lane. “They keep saying they can’t wait until we open.”
That positive attitude is perhaps partly due to the careful hiring process Lane and the corporate office exercised when sifting through thousands of applications, seeking employees who really wanted to work and could, perhaps, work their way up the company ladder as Lane himself did. This employee curating has resulted in an excellent retention rate; corporate estimates said Lane might lose 50 employees in the early stages, and he has only lost six associates in the entire build-out process.
The store is fairly large, with about 60,000 square-feet dedicated to grocery and the remainder plaited out for lawn and garden, pharmacy, clothing, electronics, hunting, automotive, housewares, toys, and all the other nifty products found in a well-appointed superstore.
But you needn’t fear getting lost; navigation is easy thanks to large and very clear signage suspended above the aisles. For the tech savvy, finding that singular thing you seek is faster than ever. Lane says the store inventory is computerized and accessible through the website and smartphone apps. Just type in what you’re looking for, select the particular Walmart you’re shopping in (Darlington!) and the app will guide you to the precise aisle, shelf, and slot to find just what you needed.
For shoppers in a major hurry, you can order items online and (provided they’re in stock) pick them up at the store.
In addition, Darlington’s Walmart will offer a full-service pharmacy and vision care clinic, and there will be an indoor restaurant (though Lane can’t yet reveal who that tenant will be).
Walmart gas will be sold at the station by the South Main Street entrance, and Lane reminds customers that a 3-cent per gallon discount applies for all gas purchases made with a Walmart credit card or gift card. Prices will be competitive with other local gas stations, though the price per gallon will be set at the corporate office and based on verified competitor pricing.
The public is invited to the Darlington Walmart official grand opening ceremony, May 11 at 7:30 a.m. Guests will include Walmart corporate execs, Darlington Mayor Gloria Hines and members of City Council, and the Darlington High School Chorus and Color Guard. After Lane presents grant donations to several local charities, the ribbon will be cut, the doors will open, and shopping in Darlington will likely never be the same again.