A spokesperson for Walmart said the projects are moving quickly. The chain hopes to have the work done as early as September for the Springfield store, during September or October for Moraine and Englewood, and into November for Beavercreek.
In addition to providing more emphasis on Walmart’s pickup and delivery services, the remodeled stores will offer more self-checkout stations and an overall updated appearance throughout the store. Examples of some of the physical changes to stores will be new paint, signage, lighting and flooring; updated bathrooms and rooms for nursing mothers, Vision Centers, and expansion of departments, such as offering summer merchandise year-round.
“Our local stores have never been more important to the way we serve customers today and, in the future,” said Jessica Villanueva, regional general manager at Walmart. “These stores serve a substantial number of rural communities, so whether someone is shopping in-store, online, through mobile or Pick Up, our brick-and-mortar stores play an important role in fulfilling those orders. These investments will make it easier for our stores and associates to get customers what they want, when they want it.”
Walmart officials are also hoping to minimize the impact to shoppers while the remodel work is being done.
“We know some disruptions are impossible to avoid when remodeling a store, but we do our best to reduce or eliminate customer friction as much as possible, including temporary directional signing, relocation of services, and extra associates working the floor to direct customers,” said Felicia McCranie, director of corporate affairs and global communications at Walmart.
Additionally, Walmart plans make its Walmart+ membership available to additional customers. The membership includes free shipping with no minimum purchase price, free delivery from stores with a $35 minimum purchase, a discount on fuel, plus music and streaming subscriptions.
The process of prioritizing Walmart’s pick up and delivery services may look different from store-to-store, McCranie said. Walmart officials did not comment on what any of those physical changes may look like at stores.
“We take our remodels on a store by store basis, and we are constantly testing and trying new things to make the process more efficient for our associates and drivers and a better experience for our customer,” McCranie said.
Multiple other local Walmart stores received renovation treatments last year, including Centerville, Miamisburg, Xenia, Huber Heights, and Miller Lane, according to company officials.
Walmart has 21 supercenters and four Sam’s Clubs in West Central Ohio, employing over 1,000 individuals with an average pay of $17.28 an hour. The complete list of the 12 stores that will be remodeled include:
• 3360 Pentagon Blvd., Beavercreek
• 1701 W. Dorothy Ln., Moraine
• 7725 Hoke Rd., Englewood
• 2100 N. Bechtle Ave., Springfield
• 1840 East U.S. Highway 36, Urbana
• 2400 Michigan St., Sidney
• 2281 U.S. Highway 68 S., Bellefontaine
• 1501 Wagner Ave., Greenville
• 2825 Progress Way, Wilmington
• 2500 Tiffin Ave., Findlay
• 2450 Allentown Rd., Lima
• 1950 Havemann Rd., Celina
Walmart will hold reopening ceremonies for each of the remodeled stores. The reopening ceremonies have already taken place for Greenville, Sidney, and Lima this year.
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