OREANDA-NEWS. Two new Walmart Neighborhood Market stores will open in Oceanside and Escondido on Wednesday, January 29, offering the North San Diego County communities convenient access to affordable goods and groceries and employing approximately 130 individuals. The new stores will both open after brief ribbon-cutting ceremonies at 7:30 a.m.

The new Oceanside Neighborhood Market, located at 1046 Mission Ave., will bring much needed grocery options to downtown Oceanside and help revitalize Mission Square shopping center by filling a vacant retail space.

“We are very pleased to have a new Walmart Neighborhood Market arriving at this location in Oceanside," said Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood. "So many individuals, families and visitors will benefit from having access to a local market in this area of town. Not only will produce and other items be easily accessible to everyone, but we are looking forward to seeing more jobs in this area of our City.”

The Neighborhood Market in Escondido, approximately one-quarter the size of a Walmart Supercenter, is located near the intersection of Ash Street and Valley Parkway and will be open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

“The new Walmart Neighborhood Market stores in Oceanside and Escondido are welcome additions to the North San Diego County business and retail community. Consumers and businesses alike need more retail options, and the addition of these stores helps build a more vibrant and thriving local and regional economy,” said Debra Rosen, President and CEO of San Diego North Chamber of Commerce.

Smaller Stores, More Convenience
Both stores will provide local residents with quick and convenient shopping, with a full-grocery department, including organic and natural selections. The stores also feature prepared food options, fresh baked breads, a deli and a self-serve bakery.

“With this new store, Walmart will add to the offerings it currently provides Escondido residents. Now, in addition to saving on everyday goods, local families can save money on their groceries and enjoy the convenience of shopping in a small, neighborhood store,” said Escondido Mayor Sam Abed.

The stores also include full-service pharmacies. The pharmacies offer a full range of products and services to help customers save money on the products they need to live healthier. Pharmacy team members can answer product and prescription questions and customers can ask about health and wellness solutions. The stores will also offer Walmart’s USD 4 Prescription Program, through which customers can choose from hundreds of generic drugs and over-the-counter medications for USD 4 for a 30-day supply or USD 10 for a 90-day supply. Started in 2006, the program has saved U.S. customers more than USD 4.8 billion on medications.

New Stores, New Jobs
The new stores employ approximately 130, combined, a mix of full- and part-time associates. The first Walmart Neighborhood Market opened in 1998, and today there are approximately 300 Walmart Neighborhood Market stores nationwide.

Walmart provides competitive wages, along with a high quality benefits program for eligible full- and part-time associates. For example, the company provides a variety of affordable health and well-being benefits, including health care coverage with no lifetime maximum. Walmart also offers matching 401(k) contributions of up to 6 percent, discounts on general merchandise, an Associate Stock Purchase Program and company-paid life insurance. Additionally, associates are eligible to receive a quarterly incentive based on store performance.

Oceanside store manager Joseph Cisneros began his Walmart career in 2002 as an Assistant Manager in the Lakewood, California store and has more than 16 years of experience in the grocery industry.

“I'm excited to bring this new store concept to Oceanside and get to know our regular customers on a personal level," Cisneros said. “We look forward to building a good relationship with the community and being a good neighbor to the City of Oceanside.”

Escondido store manager Sam Long began his Walmart career in 2003 as an hourly associate, unloading trucks at a Walmart store in Northern California.

“We are excited to open the new Walmart Neighborhood Market in Escondido,” said Long. “We want to be a store of the community, and we hope all of our new neighbors will join us on grand opening day and the days following to see all we have to offer.”

On Memorial Day last year, Walmart launched the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment to offer jobs to recently discharged veterans. Veterans who have been honorably discharged from active duty within the last 12 months have priority access to open Walmart jobs throughout the United States. Since the beginning of the program in May, more than 30,000 veterans have been hired, including several at these new stores. Over the next five years, the company projects this commitment to result in the hiring of more than 100,000 veterans nationally.