Walmart Neighborhood Market Welcomed to Loma Linda

On Wednesday June 18th, your Neighborhood Market Walmart held its grand opening. On the corner of Barton and Mountain View road, local Loma Linda residents woke up early just to get to Walmart’s grand opening at 7:30 a.m. Despite the early-morning hours store workers were excited, energetic, and ready to get their new location up and running, a location that created 65 new local jobs for the Loma Linda community and surrounding areas. A small stage decorated with an arch of green balloons welcomed attendees. Walmart workers sported the company color, green rather than the normal Walmart blue, highlighting that this location is primarily a grocery store. Before the doors opened for business for the first, a number of store and communinity leaders took the stage to welcome the community to the newest business in town. The regional manager of Walmart and the Mayor of Loma Linda, Rhodes Rigsby, were a few of these leaders. "We are excited to welcome Walmart’s Neighborhood Market to Loma Linda,” shared Loma Linda Mayor Rhodes Rigsby. In addition, Walmart contributed grants to local community groups, “including a $50,000 state giving grant to Second Harvest Food Bank Serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.” Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce CEO, Phil Carlisle, added, “Walmart provides affordable food and quality jobs for local residents, and the company actively invests in the communities it serves. I am certain the new store will be a productive and welcome part of our City.” The company has made changes in recent years, which have saved customers $3.5 billion on fresh fruits and vegetables, and provided more than $41 million to support nutrition education programs. Once the doors opened, attendees were greeted with sample foods at booths and a tiger mascot wandering around the store entertaining children. Be sure to visit Loma Linda's newest addition, open 24 hours, seven days a week.