New Denham Springs Sam's Club Hits Hometown Chord

DENHAM SPRINGS, La., June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Denham Springs Sam's Club will open Thursday, June 21 at 8 a.m. in the heart of Livingston Parish, located at 201 Bass Pro Blvd. Bringing a new dimension to local shopping, Sam's Club will draw members from St. Helena Parish, western Tangipahoa Parish and the eastern part of Baton Rouge, and bolsters economic development in Denham Springs.

The Denham Springs Sam's Club measures just over 136,000 square feet, making it the largest club in Louisiana. It will offer members everything needed for summer, such as fresh produce, quality meats, and home meal solutions along with coolers and hybrid grills. A fuel station with diesel available for Sam's Club members, plus wellness services including a pharmacy, hearing aid center and optical department, will provide convenient options for a range of needs.

"There has been an exciting buzz in the air for quite some time about the June 21 opening, not only in the community, but within our own Sam's Club family," said Jeff Simon, the club manager. "The new Sam's Club creates jobs in Livingston Parish and fresh shopping opportunities for area residents. I live here in Livingston Parish and I'm proud to be a part of this new beginning in our community."

"I cannot say enough about what this Sam's Club means for our local economy," added Parish President Layton Ricks. "It will provide hundreds of area jobs and offer services and fuel at an excellent price."

Denham Springs resident Jennifer Carlin is one of approximately 200 new associates employed at the Denham Springs Sam's Club. She started at Sam's Club as a cashier in 1985, and, now the personnel training coordinator for the Denham Springs club, she identified her leadership role as an opportunity to continue growing within the company.

"With Sam's Club opening locally, members will have the convenience of shopping close to home, as well as the selection of merchandise and specialty areas the new club offers," she said. "Economic development is an important aspect of this community, and we're proud to make a long-term commitment to it."

Grand Opening Event
The grand opening ceremony will take place at 8 a.m., June 21. Numerous local dignitaries, including Denham Springs Mayor Jimmy Durbin and Parish President Layton Ricks, will be in attendance, along with 200 Sam's Club associates.

Club manager Jeff Simon will join executives and associates to cut the ribbon to signify the club's opening. Simon began his Sam's Club career in 1997 as a sales manager in North Little Rock, Ark. He previously held management positions at the Sam's Club in Baton Rouge and eastern New Orleans, relocating to Hattiesburg, Miss., after Hurricane Katrina. After stints in Slidell and Metairie, he has returned to the area.

During the grand opening, members can sample local favorites from Louisiana-based companies such as, Richard's Cajun Sausage, Magnolia Bay Toffee, and Cook Me Somethin' Mister Jambalaya.

New Fuel Station, Hearing Aid Center and Pharmacy Offer Added Convenience
Livingston Parish residents and those passing through on I-12 who are Sam's Club members will enjoy the added convenience of a Sam's Club fuel station, which will have 12 pumps, including diesel. The new club also debuts a Sam's Club Hearing Aid Center, offering premium technology in hearing aid and personal listening devices alongside the care of a Licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist.

Other health and wellness benefits include the Sam's Club pharmacy, open to members and the public, featuring $4 and $10 generic prescriptions and savings on branded prescriptions. Sam's Club also offers an optical department and free monthly health screenings to help members take charge of their health through preventive measures.

Sam's Club Community and Environmental Commitments
Sam's Club has a longstanding commitment to give back to the communities it serves, and the new Denham Springs club is no different. Associates from the local club have selected several local organizations to receive a total of $25,000 in grants from the Sam's Club Giving Program. The new Sam's Club will also work to help fight hunger in the area by making regular product donations to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. As part of a nationwide collaboration between Sam's Club and Feeding America, Sam's Club donated more than 13 million pounds of food to Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief charity.

The new Denham Springs club was constructed with a variety of environmentally-friendly materials and energy-efficient fixtures. For instance, numerous daylight-harvesting skylights reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting throughout the club, including in the cooler and freezer box doors and jewelry counter, operates 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.

The Value of Membership
Sam's Club Membership is an investment that more than pays for itself. Whether buying for a household or a business, a Sam's Club Membership offers exclusive savings on merchandise and outstanding member benefits. With access to eValues and early shopping hours, Plus membership offers even more with our premium service options. Visit SamsClub.com/Membership for a full menu of membership services.

About Sam's Club
Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is the nation's eighth largest retailer and a leading Membership warehouse club offering superior products and services to more than 47 million Members in clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. To learn more about Savings Made Simple^®, visit SamsClub.com, and look for Sam's Club on Twitter, Facebook and on mobile and iPad apps. 

SOURCE Sam's Club