Powdersville Community Celebrates Walmart's Grand Opening

Powdersville turned out in force Wednesday morning to welcome Walmart to town.

A large crowd of eager shoppers was already gathered in the parking lot as Walmart officials celebrated the Powdersville location's grand opening.

“Good morning Powdersville!” said Store Manager Ginny Marhanka. “We are so glad to be here today. We want to thank you for welcoming us to our new community.”

Marhanka said she and her staff looked forward to being a good neighbor and really “getting involved in the community.”

“That's something that I really stand for, and my company does too, and I'm proud to be a part of Walmart,” she said.

As part of the celebration, Walmart presented several donations to area groups.

“We are donating $2,000 to the Powdersville High School,” Marhanka said. “We have a new high school. It's a beautiful facility and we need books. We need books for our library.”

As they set up the new store, Walmart Associates have been donating to another special cause, Marhanka said.

“We are donating $500 to Greenville Children's Hospital,” she said.

Walmart also donated $500 to Siloam Baptist Church and 1,500 Box Tops for Education to Concrete Primary School.

The store donated $4,500 total to the community, she said.

The celebration featured the Powdersville High School Concert Choir, the Concrete Elementary School Choir and the Powdersville High School Band.

Councilman Ken Waters said the occasion was a great one for Powdersville.

“This is a great moment, to be able to shop in the community,” Waters said. “I'd like to thank Walmart for coming, and I look forward to shopping here.”

Regional Personnel Manager Rob Green said a lot of work goes into building and opening a Walmart, from the initial construction and beyond.

“Once the four walls are up and the roof's on the building, there's a lot of work that goes into putting one of these together inside,” Green said. “I really appreciate everyone of the associates that works here in Powdersville.”

Associates from around the region came in to help get the store up and running, he said.

“I appreciate everything you guys have done,” Green said.

Green asked Marhanka to calculate how much time she's put in helping get the store ready for its big day.

“Have you counted your hours?” he asked.

“It's easier to count sleep,” she replied.

There's two Supercenters, two Neighborhood Markets and a Sam's Club either opened or in the works in the Upstate, Green said.

“I'm proud to work for a company that's growing and adding jobs,” he said. “You don't grow in an area that wouldn't support it. The Upstate has been very good to us. We're excited.”

James Gilmore with Walmart said he knows that among the new associates and the associates who came to help are the company's future leaders.

“As I meet folks, I know that somewhere in here is our next assistant managers, our next shift managers, our next store managers,” Gilmore said. “Somewhere in here is my next boss – I know that. That's what's great about a company like this. I look forward to seeing all of you grow and prosper with the company as well.”

Gilmore ended the ceremony by leading the crowd in the “Walmart Cheer” before officials cut the ribbon on the new store.

The Powdersville Walmart is a 148,000 square-foot Supercenter, open 24 hours a day, Marhanka said.

“We have a pharmacy and a vision center,” she said. “We have a service deli, a bakery and a photo lab.”

The store will employee around 275-300 associates. Hiring is still ongoing. Those interested in working at the new store can apply in person at the hiring kiosk, online at any Walmart or at Goodwill.

Marhanka has been with Walmart for 23 years and says the company “takes care of its people.”

She said Walmart believes in mentoring.

“Someone took a chance on me and (Walmart) makes it to where you can do that for someone else,” she said. “I started as an hourly and worked my way into management and I can help someone else do the same if they're interested.”

Marhanka said she also finds the company's sustainability efforts appealing.

“Working towards being more green every day, with energy savings, cutting back on waste, recycling that we do, where we're not making trash,” she said. “We're trying to help with the environment. I think that's awesome, because we all can do our part, and it's great that my company supports that, too.”