Walmart Grand Opening
Rudell DuBose of DCSD’s Workforce Investment Act program accepted a $1,000 grant donation from Walmart manager Kevin Lane
Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Darlington celebrated the May 11 official grand opening of the new Walmart Supercenter with a high-energy, early morning gathering that drew hundreds of eager shoppers and spectators.
After the National Anthem, performed by the Darlington High School Marching Band and Choir, store manager Kevin Lane welcomed the crowd to their new Supercenter, store #7188, and voiced his hope that the Darlington Walmart would soon become the city’s favorite place to shop, one where every customer is met with a smile and a positive attitude from the store’s 222 associates.
“One thing you’ll find when you come in here is going to be friendly associates, so you don’t have to worry about that when you come into this facility,” said Lane. “That’s what we’re all about, doing the right thing every time for every customer.”
Lane made $1,000 grant presentations to several local organizations, including the Darlington County School District (whose Workforce Investment Act arm helped staff the store), and the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault.
After remarks from Walmart supervisor Eddie Bostic and Darlington Mayor Gloria Hines, the crowd – evidently impatient to prowl the aisles for deals – surged through the doors, grabbed carts and dispersed through the store, forcing associates to rush to their stations and begin the first of (hopefully) many days of happy shopping at Darlington’s new retail center.
The over 120,000 square-foot facility features all the regular Walmart retail bells and whistles – everything from housewares to hunting gear to groceries – along with a pharmacy, vision care clinic, and (soon) an indoor restaurant.
Visit the new Walmart Supercenter, open 24-hours a day, at 251 Andover Place in Darlington.
Mobile users, to view photo gallery please click link: Walmart Opens in Darlington May 11, 2016
