A grand reopening ceremony was held Friday morning in the Wal-Mart parking lot to celebrate the store’s recently completed remodel.
Prior to the ceremony, which was heavily attended, and with the Brownwood High School Mighty Maroon Marching Band performing, new store manager Roy Adams explained the reason for the remodel.“The main reason is that we need to better take care of our customers and create a better shopping environment,” Adams said. “We remodeled the store from one end to the other. We brought in new merchandise. We really feel like we are opening a new store. It was old and it needed to be remodeled for our customers and the community.”
Adams said many locations are undergoing the same remodeling process “Wal-Marts throughout the country are making this same commitment to modernize stores, update them and keep them clean. Yes, it is expensive, but our customers deserve it and we wouldn’t be in business without our customers.”
Much to the delight of those in attendance, Adams said he realized customers do not enjoy waiting in long lines. “Nobody is going to stand in any lines in Brownwood, Texas. I promise you that.”
The ceremony, which included a color guard, performances by the Brownwood and Bangs High School bands, singing of the national anthem and a performance by Two Young Men Entertaining, also saw Mayor Stephen Haynes as the guest speaker. “Nothing is more iconic in a town than Wal-Mart,” Haynes said. “This company has a history of success and a history of doing right things. People like to be around other successes.”
Haynes also addressed the associates. “You are ambassadors of this community and a reflection of everything we stand for and are the most popular store in our community and do a great job.”
The store remodel shows faith in the community, Haynes said. “Thank you for reinvesting in our community. You don’t have to and we know that. It makes us proud and makes us want to support what this community is doing. You are doing good things for our people, our shoppers and most importantly-our workers.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, store employees also presented several $500 donation checks to various organizations, including Aldersgate Enrichment Center and the Zephyr Volunteer Fire Department. The Brownwood and Early Chambers of Commerce also held ribbon cuttings with Adams and other store employees.
Beginning Friday and continuing through the weekend, the store offered food demonstrations, activities for children, free drinks and several giveaways.
Pictured above are store manager Roy Adams, Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce President Tim Espinosa along with Wal-Mart representatives and chamber ambassadors cutting the ribbon for the grand reopening. Below is the Early Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting with Wal-Mart officials.
