Walmart unveils renovations to much fanfare

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 4, 2011

By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish officials, community leaders and residents were on hand Friday for a grand re-opening ceremony for the LaPlace Walmart, which was punctuated by singing, dancing and a drum line.

The store recently completed an eight-week redesign and renovation of the entire store. The new setup features a more open look with new fixtures, signage and some new products that had been previously taken out of stores.

“It is a nationwide push to try to win back some of the customers the company may have lost in recent years,” said Regional Director of Operations Ken Cartwright. “Our goal was to create an atmosphere where employees are happy to work and customers are happy to shop.”

The ceremony Friday was kicked off with a raucous march and presentation from the Master’s Touch Academy Drum Line of LaPlace. There was also a dance team, as well as a singing performance by LaPlace Walmart employee Angelle Gros.

Sheriff Wayne L. Jones, who spoke briefly Friday, said the store has always been generous with the community, including within his office. He said the store recently presented him with a $2,000 check to be donated to the Sheriff’s Office bulletproof vest fund.

“We have hired about 12 new officers this past year, and this donation will go a long way to ensuring that they stay safe on the job,” Jones said.

During Parish President Natalie Robottom’s remarks, she relayed a story about how it is sometimes difficult to shop at the store now that she is responsible for running the parish.

“I like to sneak in through the garden section,” Robottom said. “I remember one time I came in for a few things and I ended up spending three hours in the store because I kept running into people from the community who wanted to talk. It is hard to not see someone you know.”