Wal-Mart opened its newest Neighborhood Market store today in the Chattanooga area with the premiere of its 41,000-square-foot grocery-only store in Middle Valley.
Photo from Wal-Mart’s media selection of the interior and exteriors of Neighborhood MarketsJosh Blevins, manager of the new grocery-only store, said the new Neighborhood Market will bring Walmart discount grocery and gas prices along with 24-hour-a-day retailing to the northern end of the county. The new store includes a pharmacy and service station and will employ 95 associates.
“We’ve been training and preparing our staff for this day for three months and we’re off to a good start,” he said following a grand opening ceremony this morning.
Hamilton County commissioners voted 5-4 last March to rezone the property at 7636 Middle Valley Road to allow the retail store to be built. Some neighbors complained last year that the new store would aggravate traffic problems in the area.
Despite such objections, Wal-Mart shoppers said today they like the new store.
“I like being able to shop at a Walmart with just grocery items and the prices seemed to be very good,” said Elizabeth Marshall, a Hixson shopper who was one of the store’s first shoppers today.
Wal-Mart has opened similar Neighborhood Market stores over the past year in Fort Oglethorpe, Dalton, East Brainerd, East Ridge and Hixson.
A sixth local store is scheduled to open in the next month at 4110 Shallowford Road.
“With major construction complete, we’re in the home stretch for our grand opening,” Shallowford Road store manager Silke Wohlrab said this week. “We’re proud of our new store and look forward to welcoming members of the community to come visit us.”