Wally World is Here!
It finally happened, after years of yes ... then a couple of years of no ... and finally ... my hometown of Ogallala, NE, has its own mini Walmart supercenter. It opened on Wednesday, January 28th.
The Walmart Associates were lined up on both sides and gave a high five to all who entered the store. It sure pumped me up and I found myself trying to high five everyone and yelling like I was a silly school girl!
The opening ceremonies began with the Store Manager who named and thanked those who had helped get the store up and running. There was a flag presentation by our local military guard, the Star Spangled Banner sung acappella by one of the Walmart Associates and speeches that I don't remember but enjoyed the positivity of what was being said. I was more busy watching all the associates around me and how they actually looked excited. Was it a ruse?
Walmart coming to this community has not been accepted by everyone. Who can please everyone, anyway, right? And opposition to Walmart is nothing new, even to them. There are always the reports that having a Walmart come to your town means the death of the town. If that is true ... I don't know of even one. Or the familiar tune that it will put local businesses out of business. That was happening here, long before Walmart was a possibility. There has been an ebb and flow of business in the history of Ogallala from it's onset.
Well, unlike the nay sayers, I am very glad we have our own Wally World! I love shopping in Walmart and it was such a drag to drive 50 to 80 miles to find the nearest store! Interesting enough, Walmart has diversity in their stores so I like to check them all out.
There are some Walmarts that I don't enjoy because they are usually stocked with boring items and their associates lack the luster I witnessed in our Walmart Associates on it's opening day. I definitely don't like shopping in Lincoln's Walmart, especially since they made themselves hard to find! Why did you move from North 27th and Cornhusker, Lincoln Walmart? Way out East Lincoln is not a draw for me when I come back to visit one of my favorite cities I use to live in. (Unless I'm heading that way for Best Buy, which also disappointed me with their East Lincoln move!)
Anyway, I enjoy shopping at the Sterling, CO Walmart the most and the North Platte, NE store is my second choice. From my experience not all Walmarts are the same. Similar but not the same.
AND I believe having our own Wally World will add to our community. I know of one business already that opened a store here recently, only because we were getting a Walmart store. This store will also be an added source of employment (maybe to the chagrin of other businesses that will now have to compete for a work force) and it offers more affordable selections to a community that was in sore need of such. Many of those disappointed local businesses, are so, because they charge too much for products that we can now get locally cheaper at Walmart. No more lists to make and hold until I'm North Platte bound!
Walmart is an awesome donator to local food pantries, and they will support the community in ways that can help it grow. Heck ... maybe they are the ones to approach for donations/help to bring back a clinic to this community to assist the low income since the community leaders shut it down with lots of excuses as to why. Excuses that don't help those in need. (Please don't message me with the BS that there are only people who sit on their butts and pretend need. In my opinion, you are one of the haters that have never walked a day in 'need' shoes. You judge and complain and refuse to understand .... until you are the one in need. Hmmmm ... watch out for Karma.)
I am excited to see how this Walmart grows on our community and if it will take it's place on my list of favorite Walmarts to shop in.
And who should be filmed in the check out at Walmarts on opening day by KNOP-TV NEWS?
