Brooks-Area Wal-Mart Supercenter Celebrates Grand Opening; Store Signifies Continued Redevelopment of Former Base

SAN ANTONIO, April 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Marking the latest stage in the redevelopment efforts surrounding the former Brooks Air Force Base, the Wal-Mart Supercenter in south San Antonio will celebrate its grand opening at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19. Doors will open at 8 a.m.

The new south San Antonio Supercenter anchors City-Base Landing Shopping Center, a 63-acre retail project that is part of the area's redevelopment efforts. The store is located at 3302 S.E. Military Drive at the corner of Goliad Road on the northeast corner of Brooks City-Base.

"Brooks City-Base is a premier public-private partnership that will have a tremendous impact on the quality of life in San Antonio for years to come, and we are proud to be a part of the area's revitalization," said Store Manager Donald Gary. "We worked closely with the Brooks Development Authority and local officials to create an atmosphere that supplements the neighborhood's distinct character."

As part of a collaboration between Wal-Mart and community leaders, the store's exterior and landscaping have been specially designed to complement Brooks City-Base's distinctive architecture. The store features a red brick façade, extensive landscaping and minimal signage to allow it to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood.

"The Brooks Development Authority's goal for the Wal-Mart project went beyond merely providing another shopping opportunity for the market area to be served," said Howard Peak, former Mayor of San Antonio and current Chairman of the Brooks Development Authority. "We wanted an exterior image that was aesthetically consistent with our image for Brooks City-Base, including the other buildings and landscaping associated with the commercial corner." Peak went on to say, "City-Base Landing Shopping Center as a whole provides a unique and appealing shopping experience in south San Antonio, and with a Wal- Mart Supercenter as the anchor, the bar has been raised in terms of tenant mix and project appearance."

"It's great to see such a renowned retailer arriving in this part of San Antonio," said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. "This new Wal-Mart Supercenter opening is a fantastic anchor for the City-Base Landing Shopping Center and wonderful shopping opportunity for the residents of the surrounding area. We are truly excited and welcome Wal-Mart to the Brooks City-Base community."

A Focus on Community

Wal-Mart's commitment to the south San Antonio area began long before the store's April 19 grand opening. Last April, Wal-Mart partnered with Brooks Development Authority and other community organizations to relocate and thereby save more than 40 native Texas trees from the site, replanting them in the surrounding area.

Part of the store's commitment to the area will be providing community grants throughout the year to neighborhood organizations, schools and civic groups. "As the newest neighbor in the community, we are providing an initial $22,000 in grants in honor of our grand opening," Gary said. "We know that financial support to local organizations helps make a real difference, and we will play a role in continuing Wal-Mart's commitment to supporting our city."

Groups receiving donations upon the store's opening include: * Alamo City Community Marching Band * Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio * City of San Antonio Fire Department * City of San Antonio Police Department * City of San Antonio Public Library (McCreless Branch) * Highlands High School Band * Kate Schenck Elementary School * Sam Houston High School * St. Margaret Mary's Activity Center * Texas Migrant Council Store Features

According to Gary, the new 203,819-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter features 36 general merchandise departments including apparel and accessories, fine jewelry, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and a full line of electronics. In addition, the store offers a bakery, a delicatessen, a frozen food section and meat, dairy and fresh produce sections. It will be open to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will include 17 full- service and 10 express self check-out lanes.

Other highlights of the new store include coordinated merchandise displays and expanded home entertainment and electronics departments that showcase well-known consumer electronics such as MP3 players, iPods, DVD players for home or auto and high-definition televisions.

Other store features include a Tire & Lube Express, a McDonald's restaurant, a portrait studio, a one-hour photo lab, a vision center, a pharmacy with two drive-up lanes, a Smart Style hair salon and a Wal-Mart Connect Center for wireless phone sales. In addition, the store will have a branch of Woodforest Bank, and Companion Health Services will have a location inside the store to offer various mobility aids.

Grand Opening Celebration Details

Wal-Mart associate Debra Evans will perform the national anthem at the 7:30 a.m. grand opening ceremony. An honor guard from Lackland Air Force Base will present the colors, and Roxanne Galvan from the Community Arts Network will conduct a blessing. Gary will cut the ribbon to the new store. The BDA's Howard Peak and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff are among the local officials scheduled to attend the event. Wednesday evening, local Tejano bands Fantacia will perform at 6 p.m. and Los de la Cumbia will play at 7 p.m. Other activities planned during the grand opening event include numerous product samples, character appearances and give-aways.

The celebration continues through Sunday, April 23 with family fun activities. Customers will be able to join in football and baseball games and examine a NASCAR show car and Hummer on display in the store's parking lot. Coca-Cola will sell drinks and hot dogs for $1, donating proceeds to the Children's Miracle Network.

450 New Jobs

The store will employ approximately 450 associates, most of which will be full-time. More than 1,500 people applied for jobs at the new store. The national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly associates is approximately $10.11 per hour.*

"It has always been my experience that people are interested in Wal-Mart based on the opportunities and careers we provide," said Gary. "The large number of applicants for jobs at our store tells me they have heard what a special place this is to work." Gary, a graduate of San Antonio's John Jay High School, started his Wal-Mart career in 1990 as an hourly sales clerk in the electronics department at a store in north San Antonio. Eleven of the San Antonio store's associates have worked for Wal-Mart for more than 10 years, added Gary.

Wal-Mart benefits -- available to full- and part-time associates -- include healthcare insurance with no lifetime maximum. Wal-Mart offers a choice of as many as 18 health plans that cost as little as $11 a month in some areas. Both full and part-time Wal-Mart associates are eligible for health care benefits. Wal-Mart also offers a 401(k) plan and profit sharing contributions, whether an associate contributes or not, store discount cards, performance-based bonuses, discounted stock purchase program and life insurance.

Wal-Mart Economic Impact in Texas

As of March 2006, Wal-Mart employed 145,022 associates and owned and operated the following facilities in the state of Texas:

Supercenters: 254 Discount Stores: 61 Neighborhood Markets: 30 SAM'S CLUBS: 70 Distribution Centers: 15

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. Internationally, the company operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United Kingdom. The company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT. More information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting http://www.walmartfacts.com/ . Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com/ .

* Average wage taken yearly (December 2005). See http://www.walmartfacts.com/ for more details.