West Valley Walmart to open Oct. 14

YAKIMA, Wash. -- I’ve got more details about the upcoming Walmart opening in West Valley from general manager Kim Pierce.

The store will open at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 14 after a grand opening ceremony in front of the store. I asked her about how the store managed to open early.

Pierce notes that a November opening was a conservative estimate for the retailer, but there was hopes that they could open earlier.

Along with the supercenter at 6600 Nob Hill Blvd., several other businesses that are housed in the store will also open including a branch of Catholic Credit Union, a Subway sandwich shop, a hair salon, a nail salon and a money center.

Once open, the store will open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

About 95 percent of the 380-worker staff has been hired, but they’re still accepting applications at the store for the remaining positions, which include jobs in supervising, cashiering, receiving and stocking.

I couldn’t resist asking how she felt about the store opening after what has been a long legal battle between local residents, the city of Yakima and retailer.

She notes that she wasn’t in the area when all that was happening, but said she has received positive response so far.

“Now that we’re here, the community’s excited about it,” she said. “I had customers coming in from the neighborhood asking when it’s open and taking sneak peeks.”

-- Mai Hoang

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