New Wal-Mart Supercenter in Modesto draws super-sized crowd
At a time when retailers are bracing for cutbacks from consumers spooked by a rocky economy, Wal-Mart showed off the power of its brand and the promise of bargain prices at the opening of its new Modesto supercenter today.
At 6:45 a.m. people started lining up to get into the supercenter at 3848 McHenry Ave. By the time the doors opened at 8 a.m., hundreds of shoppers formed a line that stretched south along the front of the store.
The parking lot filled quickly, forcing drivers to continually circle the North Point Landing shopping center. Vehicles also spilled out onto adjacent Coralwood Road, where they were parked on both sides of the street for several blocks.
The opening of the nearly 100,000-square-foot store, the first supercenter in Stanislaus County, attracted bargain-hunters, longtime Wal-Mart fans and those who were just curious about what the world's largest retailer had to offer. Employees from Wal-Mart's competitors also could be seen cruising the aisles.
The new Modesto store carries clothing and accessories, health and beauty aids, jewelry, home furnishings and decorator accents, hunting and fishing items, linens, a full-range of electronics and more. About one-third of the supercenter, or about 38,000 square feet, is stocked with groceries, bakery goods, deli items, frozen foods, dairy products, fresh produce, meat, beer and wine.
The store, which employs about 370 people, fills two adjoining spaces that were previously occupied by SavMax and Rite Aid, but have been vacant for years. The new owners of the shopping center took it over two years ago, renovating the complex and pursuing Wal-Mart for its new anchor tenant.
The result of those efforts were clear by the crush of traffic in and around the center.
While some merchants in the center were concerned about the lack of parking, they were hopeful more spaces would become available after the grand opening and the new store's first weekend.
Still, the prospect that the increased traffic generated by Wal-Mart would bring them more business had many tenants smiling.
At a time when retailers are bracing for cutbacks from consumers spooked by a rocky economy, Wal-Mart showed off the power of its brand and the promise of bargain prices at the opening of its new Modesto supercenter today.
At 6:45 a.m. people started lining up to get into the supercenter at 3848 McHenry Ave. By the time the doors opened at 8 a.m., hundreds of shoppers formed a line that stretched south along the front of the store.
The parking lot filled quickly, forcing drivers to continually circle the North Point Landing shopping center. Vehicles also spilled out onto adjacent Coralwood Road, where they were parked on both sides of the street for several blocks.
The opening of the nearly 100,000-square-foot store, the first supercenter in Stanislaus County, attracted bargain-hunters, longtime Wal-Mart fans and those who were just curious about what the world's largest retailer had to offer. Employees from Wal-Mart's competitors also could be seen cruising the aisles.
The new Modesto store carries clothing and accessories, health and beauty aids, jewelry, home furnishings and decorator accents, hunting and fishing items, linens, a full-range of electronics and more. About one-third of the supercenter, or about 38,000 square feet, is stocked with groceries, bakery goods, deli items, frozen foods, dairy products, fresh produce, meat, beer and wine.
The store, which employs about 370 people, fills two adjoining spaces that were previously occupied by SavMax and Rite Aid, but have been vacant for years. The new owners of the shopping center took it over two years ago, renovating the complex and pursuing Wal-Mart for its new anchor tenant.
The result of those efforts were clear by the crush of traffic in and around the center.
While some merchants in the center were concerned about the lack of parking, they were hopeful more spaces would become available after the grand opening and the new store's first weekend.
Still, the prospect that the increased traffic generated by Wal-Mart would bring them more business had many tenants smiling.
