It's official: Wal-Mart is coming
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on July 16, 2006 9:54 AM
From staff reports
MOUNT OLIVE -- Construction of a Wal-Mart supercenter on the northwest side of Mount Olive is under way, with a new sign at the site trumpeting the project that is expected to be completed next spring.
Wal-Mart spokesman Tara Stewart said it will take about 10-12 months to finish work and get the building ready. She said there is no target date yet for the store's opening.
Grading work started more than a week ago. Although town officials have not stated openly that Wal-Mart is locating at the site, Town Manager Charles Brown said last week that the retail giant has employees in town getting ready to start the project. The town has granted the contractor, Helms Builders, the necessary permits and the site has been given an address, Brown said.
Wal-Mart already operates stores in Goldsboro, Clinton, Wallace and Kinston, but company officials have said they are eager to serve the southern Wayne-northern Duplin market that surrounds Mount Olive.
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has more than 6,500 stores worldwide, serving an estimated 176 million customers every week.
Wal-Mart has 80 supercenters, 34 discount stores and 19 Sam's Clubs in North Carolina, employing more than 48,000 people.
Superstores have an average size of 101,000-square-feet and 142,000 items for sale, according to the company's Web site.
The average wage for regular, full-time hourly Wal-Mart associate in North Carolina is $10.25 per hour.