GRAVETTE — Grand opening for Gravette’s new Walmart Express store is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 31, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. The new business is located at 800 First Avenue S.E., Highway 59 south in Gravette.

It is the third such new-design store in the two county area, with stores having opened in Gentry and Prairie Grove in June.

The new express store “is designed to make shopping quick and easy for area customers who want to save money and find what they need close to home,” a Walmart press release said.

Located on land which was the site of the original Gravette Medical Center Hospital, “the 15,000-square-foot Gravette Walmart Express offers groceries and general merchandise, including fresh produce, dairy and meats, as well as a pharmacy, dry goods, consumables, health and beauty aids.” A four-pump gas station also is on-site for convenience of the customers in Gravette, surrounding communities and rural areas.

“We want to give our customers Walmart savings right in their own neighborhoods with low prices every day, on everything,” said Jeannette Direnzo, store manager. “If you find a better price we’ll match it.”

Direnzo has been with Walmart for seven years and was manager of a Walmart Neighborhood Market in Fayetteville priorto coming to the Gravette store.

As part of Walmart’s commitment to the local community, grants from the Walmart Foundation will be presented during the grand opening to the following: Senior Activity Center of Gravette, $10,000; Boys & GirlsClub of Gravette, $10,000; and Gravette Public Library, $5,000.

Gravette community leaders will join Walmart associates at the brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new store. Dignitaries, including Gravette Mayor Byron Warren, State Senator Kim Hendren and State Representative Mary Lou Slinkard, will offer remarks during the ceremony.

Student Mylasia Lawton from Gravette High School will perform the national anthem, and members of the American Legion will present the colors. Direnzo, associates and guests will cut the ribbon to officially open the new store.

News, Pages 1 on 08/31/2011