July 6, 2024

Walmart customers in Raytown were welcomed inside the newly transformed Supercenter at 10300 East Highway 350 Friday morning, June 21, as the much-anticipated project is now complete. The store’s associates marked the occasion with a ribbon cutting ceremony and community celebration. The event was also attended by representatives of local nonprofit organizations that received a combined $7,500 in grants.

Friday’s event featured the singing of the national anthem by Walmart associate Stephanie Stewart and members of her local church group and a flag presentation by the local Boy Scouts Troop, in addition to an official ribbon cutting with the Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce. Local city officials, including Mayor Mike McDonough, and attendees enjoyed refreshments, food trucks, vendor samples, giveaways, mascot appearances and more.

During the re-grand opening celebration, Walmart Store Manager Jamie Rhoden highlighted the Supercenter’s transformed departments as well as the new interactive features now available to customers, including:

● A community-inspired mural
● A newly painted building inside and out
● Expanded online grocery pickup and delivery area with the addition of 22 new parking stalls
● Front-end improvements with the addition of 14 new self-checkout lanes
● Fully remodeled bathrooms, including modern fixtures, with the addition of a new mother’s room
● Improved store layout to expand product selection and streamline the customer shopping experience
● Increased number of products and enhanced product displays in multiple departments
● New dollar section and “Grab & Go” lunch and deli items located at the front of the store
● New pharmacy layout with the addition of a consultation room and privacy area to improve customer service and the comfort of patients
● New signage throughout the store making it easier for customers to navigate
● New vestibules located at the store entrances with new rubber flooring
● Repolished flooring throughout the store
● Restriped parking lot

“Store 1094 is one the community can be proud of,” said Rhoden. “It has taken a lot of work to remodel the facility and the associates are extremely proud of the work they put into it. I’m thankful to the community for being patient during this process and excited to celebrate the remodel completion. Our founder, Mr. Sam Walton, would be proud of the building we are providing and the hard work everyone put into making this the best Walmart it can be. We are committed to helping customers save money so they can live better.”

To reinforce Walmart’s dedication to the communities it serves, Rhoden and his team also presented grant checks to the following local nonprofit organizations:

• $2,000 to Company of Champions
• $2,000 to Kansas City Swingers Golf Association
• $2,000 to Raytown Police Fund
• $1,500 to The Battle Within, Inc.

Additional transformations across Raytown Walmart’s apparel, deli and bakery, home, infants, pets and front-end departments are a part of Walmart’s ‘Store of the Future’ design, which seeks to inspire customers and elevate their in-store experiences. These new upgrades include:

• Activated corners: Exciting displays are featured at the corners of certain departments to pull customers in and help them touch, feel and become a part of the space, allowing them to discover all that Walmart has to offer.
• Elevated departments: Transformed stores feature displays showcasing products that are out of their boxes so customers can imagine them fitting into their daily lives.
• More space to discover: Walmart has purposefully created more space for customers to explore and discover the breadth and depth of what their local store has to offer.
• Digital touchpoints: These new touchpoints located throughout the store help to communicate to customers the vast range of products and services Walmart offers online through the use of QR codes and digital screens. For example, in Walmart’s Pets area, a customer may scan the QR code to find additional dog bed options, learn about Walmart’s pet insurance service options or have a 20-pound bag of kibble delivered to their door.