Walmart finalizes plans for opening of two new stores in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE - Two new Walmart Neighborhood Market stores are still on track for opening in Gainesville next Wednesday, Jan. 28.<br /> <br /> The doors will open following a brief ribbon-cutting at 7:30 a.m. at each store - one on Browns Bridge Road, the other on Thompson Bridge Road. The grocery stores will also feature a pharmacy and a fuel station and each will serve as a pickup point for items ordered on Walmart.com, including toys, electronics and home decor. There will be no charge for shipping the items to the stores, each of which will cover about 41,000 square feet. <br /> <br /> As AccessNorthGa.com reported earlier this month, the new stores will each employ up to 95 full- and part-time workers.<br /> <br /> The grand-opening celebrations will include presentations of $16,500 in grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation to local community groups.<br /> <br /> Events surrounding the opening of the stores will include a "Big Family Welcome" at the Browns Bridge Road store on Saturday, Jan. 31, and Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Thompson Bridge Road store, both 12:00-3:00. Each celebration will feature such activities as face painting, cupcake decorating and free food samples while supplies last. <br /> <br /> The stores will be open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.