Walmart, City Celebrate Grand Opening of Neighborhood Market

Story and photos by Bill Johnson

A robust revitalization of the Winters Chapel Road area started Wednesday morning with a ribbon cutting and Grand Opening ceremony at the new Walmart Neighborhood Market in the Winter Village shopping center.

With the Latino musical group Bonito Tecalitlan entertaining just outside the entrance and Jeff Sparks jazz ensemble entertaining inside the new store, customers began streaming in just after 7:30 a.m.

In welcoming Walmart employees and customers, Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason said, "This is the most fun and enthusiastic grand opening I've been to."

Mason added, "The community wanted it. It was the right thing at the right time and it's just the beginning. Just like it's the beginning of Peachtree Corners, it's the beginning for this area as we go forward with other plans for development and other plans for making this the best place we can possibly make it."

The Neighborhood Market format isn't what many Walmart shoppers in Georgia are familiar with. Rather than  the traditional clothing, automotive, outdoors and sporting goods offerings, the emphasis here is on quick and convenient grocery shopping. The new store features organic and natural produce as well as a fresh-slice deli, bakery, health and beauty aids and a pharmacy.

Gwinnett County Commissioner Lynette Howard said, "This has been a long road and we worked really hard to get this store to open in this area."

Winter Village is located on the Peachtree Corners/Dunwoody boundary line and Howard credited officials in both cities as well as Gwinnett County's Planning Department with a combined effort to bring Walmart to the area. She also singled out Peachtree Corners City Councilman Phil Saad for getting the effort started.

"Two years ago, Phil Sadd organized getting the information about this great new store and had this great community attend a town hall meeting. He's an inspirational guy who believes in this community. Walmart came to that meeting, gave their presentation and everybody got behind Phil."

The store will provide about 95 full- and part-time jobs for area residents.

The Grand Opening celebration included a presentation by Walmart of $8,000 to local agencies and non-profits, including the Dunwoody Police Department, Gwinnett County Police and Fire Department and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation.

The Walmart Neighborhood Market will also host a Family Welcome Day Saturday to give customers an even greater chance to explore the new store and enjoy some family fun including face painting for the kids, cupcake decorating and free foor samples fro noon until 3 p.m.

Editor's note: Bill Johnson is the City of Peachtree Corners public information officer.