Sam's Club Opens in Warwick, Bringing Jobs, Savings

WARWICK, R.I., Jan. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sam's Club will open its new Warwick club at 25 Pace Blvd. following an 8 a.m. Grand Opening ceremony Thursday, Jan. 23, adding jobs and a preferred member shopping experience to the region. The membership warehouse club will give residents and small business owners the opportunity to access incredible savings on quality products, including products made in Rhode Island.

Sam's Club has been serving the region for more than 18 years and the new club ensures it will serve the Warwick community for many more.

"Not only will we have exciting merchandise at competitive prices, but our member service will be above and beyond expectations," said local Sam's Club Manager Gabriel Urueta. "We have high expectations for our club and look forward to working with our community again."

Grand Opening ceremony features local officials, special events
Governor Lincoln D. Chafee will be joining the club for its preview events on Wednesday.

"It is critical to our economy that nationwide businesses like Sam's Club continue to invest in infrastructure improvements and continued growth in Rhode Island," said Governor Chafee. "The enhancements and additional services now available including a new pharmacy, upgraded tire service center, hearing aid station and café help to create the 140 full and part time jobs available to Rhode Islanders."  

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian will be among those participating in the grand opening ceremony. Additionally, members of the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce will be participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony.

"Sam's Club has been a member of this community for many years," said Mayor Avedisian.  "We look forward to celebrating their new club and the jobs provided to the members of our community."

During the Grand Opening, Sam's Club will showcase a variety of special events inside the club including local favorites Cape Cod Cranberry Harvest jelly and Warwick Ice Cream, located only one mile from the club. The Warwick Fire Department will provide free batteries at Sam's Club on Thursday, courtesy of Duracell, to recharge smoke detectors.

In addition, immunizations will be offered Opening Day from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and continue to be offered at Sam's Club while supplies last. Free health screenings will also be given to assess total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, bone density and hearing screening testing, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Quality products help small businesses and busy families
Sam's Club is bringing a unique experience to Warwick, providing a shopping opportunity that allows members to stock up and save on a variety of family and small business needs. Busy families can rely on fresh produce, quality meats and home meal solutions, while office supplies, vending machine snacks and paper goods prepare small business members for success. Additional benefits for small business owners include early shopping hours, personal shopping through Click 'n' Pull, truck-load savings, and access to quality items most often used by foodservice businesses,restaurant owners and caterers.

Measuring approximately 136,000 square feet, the new club will feature a variety of members-only amenities, including a fresh bakery, a tire and battery center, and a café.

A number of health and wellness services are also available. The Sam's Club Pharmacy, open to both members and the public, features many $4 and $10 generic prescriptions, as well as extraordinary savings on branded prescriptions. Also, at the Hearing Aid Center, premium technology in hearing aids and personal listening devices is available from a certified audiologist.

New club brings 140 new jobs to community, local giving
To staff the new Warwick club, Sam's Club has hired 140 new associates. Walmart and Sam's Club currently employ more than 2,400 people in Rhode Island.

"I started my career with Sam's Club as an hourly electronics associate in 1998," said Urueta. "Due to the support I received I knew early on I wanted to manage a store and help other associates achieve their professional goals as well."

Sam's Club also has a commitment to give back to the communities it serves. Several local non-profit organizations will benefit from special grants as part of the Grand Opening celebration, including Warwick fire department, Warwick police department, Warwick Animal Shelter and Trudeau Center.

"The process of opening a new club has many procedures and protocols to ensure safety of our community," said Fire department Chief Edmund Armstrong. "We applaud the Sam's Club team for all of their hard work to make the completion of their new building as easy as possible and we look forward to seeing the final product."

Membership Information
A 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 member can access exclusive savings on merchandise and outstanding benefits. With access to additional Instant Savings, early shopping hours, and additional discounts on pharmacy and optical services, Sam's Plus memberships offer even more with additional great benefits. Sam's Plus memberships are $100 annually. Sam's Savings memberships and Sam's Business memberships are $45 annually, and include Instant Savings loaded directly onto Member's cards. Special savings for college students and military families are also available. For more information, visit SamsClub.com/membership.

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 in more than 630 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. To learn more about Sam's Club, visit the Sam's Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com, and interact with Sam's Club on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE Sam's Club