New, not-so-new employees help reopen Chandler store

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Store staff, local business and government officials and a mascot were all part of a June 26 event to celebrate completion of a major remodel.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, Chandler Chamber of Commerce staff and leaders, Walmart managers, employees and others helped officially reopen transformed Walmart Supercenter No. 3360, 2750 E. Germann Road in Chandler, near Gilbert Road.

The celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony involving longtime store employees, brief words from officials and managers, vendor samplings and an opportunity for customers to enjoy many of the new amenities.

The store is among the first of 18 Walmart locations in Arizona to celebrate major remodels this year, including five in the East Valley and others within Chandler.

A $10,000 Walmart donation was announced, benefiting a local nonprofit.

Several employees who have been at the store since it first opened in 2005 were also recognized.

Improvements listed on a news release include a newly painted interior and store exterior; an increased selection of products across multiple departments, including grocery, hardware, health and beauty, home, pets, pharmacy and sporting goods; an expanded seasonal section offering customers more options around the holidays; new flooring throughout the store; new lighting and signs throughout the store; and a new pharmacy layout that includes a “health room” and private consult area.

“It takes a village,” market manager Tom McReynolds said in thanking the many store and corporate employees and contractors who made the renovation happen.

Email Jason W. Brooks at jjbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.