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Walmart store to open Wednesday morning
The wait is almost over for residents eager to see their Biloxi Walmart offer a full line of groceries and a wider assortment of new products and services.
The new Walmart store in Biloxi — at 2681 C.T. Switzer Sr. Drive, just west of Edgewater Mall — will open to customers Wednesday at 8 a.m., after a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m.
The store, which is relocated from Pass Road, will use Walmart's newest layout, designed to make shopping easy for customers.
"We have a loyal customer base and some have been shopping here for nearly 25 years," said store manager Michael McDavid. "We think they'll love the new, easy-to-shop layout of the store and appreciate the savings we offer on the products they need."
Mayor A.J. Holloway said the new store will serve as a catalyst for economic growth in west Biloxi: "We're seeing more restaurants and more retail as a result of this new store, which is conveniently situated just west of Edgewater Mall, with easy access off U.S. 90. I certainly appreciate the investment and confidence that Walmart has shown in Biloxi and the surrounding area."
The new store will employ 300 associates, which includes 85 new hires.
With the relocation, the store has added 30,000-square feet and now features a full line of groceries as well as a bakery, a deli, a frozen-food section, and meat, dairy and fresh produce sections. Time-saving services and an expansive merchandise selection add to its one-stop shopping convenience. Wide aisles, bright interior paint scheme, enhanced lighting and easy-to-read signage are designed to make the shopping experience more convenient for customers.
Said McDavid: "By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase we are making one-stop shopping even easier."
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, store associates will present $4,250 in grants to local organizations, including the Edgewater Rotary Club of Biloxi, Fisher House at Keesler Air Force Base, the Humane Society of South Mississippi, and Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen Food Bank.
The Walmart announcement: To read Walmart's three-page announcement about its Biloxi store, click here.
Expect heavy traffic: Biloxi Police Chief John Miller said extra police officers will try to help keep traffic moving safely and efficiently between Eisenhower and DeBuys roads and on west beach on Wednesday, and motorists should expect heavy traffic and some delays. Said Miller: "We advise people to be patient. We'll certainly have officers on the scene to help keep things moving, but there will be delays nonetheless."
Keeping it in context: The new Walmart is only one of the many developments that Mayor A.J. Holloway touted in his State of the City address in February. To see the 17-minute video that gives an overall view of the quality of life and growth in Biloxi, click here.