Speaking to a crowd of more than 100 people at the grand opening of Cullman’s new Walmart on Wednesday morning, manager Joey Childress thanked the city and its residents for their support.

The reason Cullman is now welcoming its second supercenter, according to Childress? The answer is simple.

“Between the distribution center and store on the south side, Cullman is a Walmart town,” he said. “You’ve embraced us. We’re proud to be here and thank you for allowing us to come.”

Cullman Mayor Max Townson noted the second store is the culmination of a relationship that started decades ago, when the company decided to build a major distribution center in the heart of Cullman’s burgeoning industrial market.

“Thirty-one years ago, Sam Walton flew over Cullman, saw all the chicken houses, and thought it reminded him or Arkansas,” Townson said. “Then he decided to build his distribution center here. We’re proud of Walmart.”

Located on Alabama Highway 157, the new Walmart is creating approximately 300 new jobs at its 189,543 square-foot campus. The development is located east of the joint Texaco and Wendy’s restaurant on Alabama Highway 157, and runs beside the vacant Backyard Burger.

A new traffic light has also been installed on Highway 157 in front of the development to allow access. The store marks the county’s second Walmart, in conjunction with the existing location on Olive Street in south Cullman.

Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce president Leah Bolin said she was proud to see the store open, and is excited to see how it will serve as a catalyst for even more growth.

“It’s about time. The store on the south side is already bursting at the seams, and Cullman itself is bursting at the seams,” she said. “This side of town is underserved, and it’s going to bring in new tax dollars from the interstate, and I think it could also recapture some folks on the north side who might be shopping elsewhere.”

Company officials note the new Walmart facility takes advantage of some fresh design and layout concepts, which should make for a more pleasant shopping experience.

The three big changes: This Walmart will have a drive-thru pharmacy; the auto maintenance center will feature new equipment and streamlined processes; and the Site to Store center is located in the front of the store, meaning customers who order products online should be able to get in and out in less than five minutes.

Along with the main Walmart store and large parking lot, the site plan also calls for four smaller retail spaces to be built beside the main development. Those spots range in size from 20,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet. The site plan also includes a handful of additional undeveloped outparcels around the project.

Shawna McClanahan of Vinemont was among the throngs of shoppers who came out to get a first hand look at the store minutes after it opened Wednesday morning.

“It looks good, and it’s just huge,” she said. “I just wanted to come check it out.”