Walking into the Walmart on Gunbarrel Road, customers may notice that things look a little different as the store undergoes an extensive renovation through May.
"We're opening up what we call the action alleys -- the main aisles -- to where the customer can navigate more easily," store manager Allen Pilkington said.
Changes will touch shelving, product placement and flooring. The store has completed changes to frozen food, the produce wall and apparel, among other areas. Cosmetics and health products are set to be completed by the end of the week with the vision center to reopen Monday.
Elizabeth Steinfath, the store's asset protection coordinator, said the "low profiling," which will lower shelves in most areas to 5 or 6 feet, will help customers easily identify other departments and let more light into the store.
In addition to trying to enhance the customer experience, the remodeling has prompted the store to hire 70 temporary associates.
"They are responsible for moving all the merchandise and setting up all the new fixturing. They navigate around the store a department at a time," Mr. Pilkington said of the work being done in three shifts.
Although Mr. Pilkington said it is impossible not to interfere with a customer's ability to shop, the store is taking steps to minimize the inconvenience.
A lot of the renovation will take place overnight, with temporary signs in place and maps of the layout will be available at the store's entrance when it has its grand reopening. The renovation is set to be completed in May with a remodeling project set for the Brainerd store shortly thereafter.
Local and corporate management declined comment on the costs of renovation to the store.