by Rick Griffin
Walmart has announced it will open a new Neighborhood Market in El Cajon during the first half of this year. The store, expected to generate about 65 new jobs, will be located on Second Street in the Town and Country Village Shopping Center in about 40,000 square feet of retail space that has been vacant for nearly three years.
“El Cajon is pleased that Walmart is bringing its Neighborhood Market concept to our city,” said El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells. “Families often struggle to maximize their time and save money when shopping for basic necessities and fresh food. This store will help our residents accomplish both.”
Walmart Neighborhood Markets, debuted in 1998, feature a wide variety of products, including fresh produce, meats and dairy products, frozen foods, dry goods and staples, deli foods, bakery items, canned and packaged goods, condiments and spices, pet supplies, household supplies and a full-service pharmacy. Today, Arkansas-based Walmart (NYSE: WMT) operates about 300 Neighborhood Markets across the country, including about 30 in California. Walmart operates 24 stores in San Diego County, including 12 general merchandise stores, nine supercenters, two Neighborhood Markets and one Sam’s Club location. This will be the second store to open in El Cajon.
Walmart supports local charitable causes that are important to the communities it serves. In the past two years, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have donated more than $4.5 million to charitable and civic organizations that serve San Diego County, including the East County Boys & Girls Club, East County Transitional Living Center and The Salvation Army El Cajon Corps.