Photo Submitted
Kirsten Tucker, from Greer, will manage the first Walmart Neighborhood Market in South Carolina when it opens at Greer Plaza, tentatively scheduled for mid-February.
The Walmart Neighbood Market, located at Greer Plaza, is nearing completion of its facade and signage. The shopping center's parking lot has been resurfaced and islands and landscaping have been added.
“I have always been excited about the Neighborhood Market. When I heard they were bringing one to the area I immediately let it known I would love to work there,” Tucker said.
It is Walmart’s first venture into the grocery store concept in South Carolina. Greer will be the first store to open, tentatively scheduled for mid-February. It has not been determined if the store will be open 24/7 or close late at night.
Tucker was hired as a cake baker in 1999 while studying at Greenville Tech. “My first six years I did nothing but food and the fresh produce area. Food was my backbone. I told my managers I needed to learn the other areas of the store if I had any thoughts of managing my own store,” Tucker said.
Tucker transferred to a store in Vidalia, Ga., and returned to Greer where she worked recently at the Woodruff Road Supercenter. Once hired for the Greer Market Tucker has assembled her assistant managers, focusing on business and food background, and for the past month they have been training at various company food stores.
Greer has always been home for Tucker and her family. Her three children attend Crestview Elementary School.
“This will be a lot different for me,” Tucker said. “Since we’re the first store in the state I don’t know what our sales will be like and don’t know what to expect. But I totally understand what the expectations are.”
The Market will feature a large inventory of meat and fresh produce. Walmart will continue its inventory of food at the Supercenter. Meats will be pre-packaged, a bakery, deli and pharmacy will be located in the store. “We will have a lot of different options with our meats,” Tucker said. “There’s a lot of compliance that make it more reasonable for us to offe package meats plus we have a 100 percent money back guarantee.”
General merchandise such as paper goods and pet products will also be offered.
Tucker’s first order of business is hiring 80 associates to join the management team. She said she has hired about half of the staff and Interviews are being conducted daily at 104 Middleton Way, Suite C from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays. Prospective employees can also apply at service desks in stores or online. “We’re hiring sales people, cashiers and stockers. We’ve hired about half of what we need and expect to have all hired by mid-January,” Tucker said.
The former Winn-Dixie store is being upfit and the façade is nearing completion with signage soon to be posted.