Walmart (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
By Brian Hews
Walmart opened La Palma’s first Walmart Neighborhood Market on Friday, May 10, after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. The new store is located at 5420 La Palma Avenue and is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The new store will provide local customers with a new, convenient option for their grocery shopping needs, including fresh produce and pharmacy services.
“I am excited to see Walmart open a new store in La Palma. This new store will be an economic stimulus for the surrounding community and the City as a whole,” said La Palma Mayor Steve Hwangbo. “The Walmart Neighborhood Market’s emphasis on providing fresh, affordable groceries to local residents will certainly be welcome here.”
The Walmart Neighborhood Market format offers quick and convenient shopping, with a full-grocery department, including organic and natural selections. The store features prepared food options, fresh-baked breads, self-serve deli and a bakery. The La Palma store is also tailored to the community, offering local favorites.
The pharmacy offers a full range of products and services. Pharmacy team members can answer product and prescription questions and offer health and wellness solutions.
“It’s always great to see companies like Walmart invest in our area,” said Connie Pedenko, President and CEO of the West Orange County Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Walmart provides quality jobs for area residents, and its positive economic impact will be a boost for our local economy.”
The grand-opening celebration includes presentations of $8,000 in grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation to local community groups. These groups include John F. Kennedy High School, Kiwanis Club of La Palma, La Palma Christian Center, La Palma Continental Little League, La Palma Police Department and Walker Junior High School.
The new store employs more than 65 full- and part-time associates. The first Walmart Neighborhood Market opened in 1998, and today there are approximately 250 Walmart Neighborhood Market stores nationwide.
Store manager Charlie Ochoa began his Walmart career in 2003 as an hourly associate in asset protection at a store in Rialto.
“I am very excited to open our Walmart Neighborhood Market, giving the people of La Palma an option to shop for very affordable groceries, but most of all an opportunity to save money so they can live better,” said Ochoa.
Friday, May 10, 2013.
Very excited about this convenient location.
If this location could only be stocked as well compared to the Long Beach Towne Center and open 24/ 7, as still many shoppers will use the Long Beach location, as more supplies and better shopping hr. La Palma site location, needs a In-Out Burger plus a Star Bucks to complete the mall.
Wish both the Cypress and Cerritos Home Depot, could be converted to a Super Home Depot, compared to Yorba Linda- Savi Ranch, as many shoppers are fleeing La Palma to shop in Yorba Linda.
Saturday, May 11, 2013.
Very clean and well stocked. My recommendations:
• Need In House Bakery.
• Interior coffee seating –tables.
• Exterior Patio seating and tables for relaxing and talking.
• Need some Parking Lot landscape- kind of concrete jungle from the 60’s.
• Less frozen foods and more freshly prepared food to go items ( Cocso)
• Prices were fusion: 99Cent Store+Ralphs+Target. Prices are not all cheap straight across the board.
• Need online shopping and home delivery to the cities surrounding La Palma, as many seniors who can not shop.
• Need more parking lot lights in front of the door.
• Employ more senior citizens from the community.
• Many staples are not here, have to go to the Wal-mart in Long Beach Towne Center.
• Stop the herd of Kennedy HS from jamming up the store, as chases real buyers away during the stampede after hrs.
• Left hand turn center lanes from La Palma and Walker, are still mess and confusion.
• Is the LP community HUB alive or dead?
• Hope the parking lot has some room for bus staging.
Lets hope the community patronizes and Wal-Mart is aggressive in chasing prices, or the store will die. My opine, more upscale Ralphs Markets are more attractive, espec. the Roosmoor Location. Gelsons is moving in to the Marina, so many locals will be running to Long Beach. LP is diversified, as not having 24 hrs is a killer! Location, Location is everything, but without customer care and products, location will loose to another vacant box.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Yesteryears former FEDCO & GEMCO, capitalized on bridging the cap of consumer shopping pickup at the door step of the stores. Eliminated parking lot carts, accidents and allows impaired endless shopping. Stores connected between shoppers and car delivery @ side doors.
Former Fedco & Costco, both created top of the line Deli & Bakery, for take out meals and caterings size event meals. Great foods for singles and impaired home bound residents to eat at home.
Today, Vons is only market for online grocery shopping, plus home deliveries. Great for impaired and senior citizens. Gelsons, Bristol Farms & Whole Foods, only stops for over -the -top goods.
With aging residents of our community, stores must speak to residents, if they want to survive in our village hoods.
One of the best Ma/Pop stores, was the E. Lakewood, Plowboys outdoor ranch market. From Garden to the store, they were tops for many decades.
Today’s Immigrant councils, appointees and store managers, will never understand what yesteryears Heartland of America Council + Planners, did for the betterment of the community.