The Walmart on Highway 157 in Cullman is seen in Oct. 2015.

By Trent Moore

Staff Writer

Shoppers looking to get their Wal-Mart fix in north Cullman should go ahead and circle this date on the calendar: November 11.

After more than a year of work, Cullman’s second Wal-Mart Supercenter will officially open for business on that date — and shoppers might also notice things running a bit smoother when compared to other Wal-Mart stores.

The new Wal-Mart facility takes advantage of some fresh design and layout concepts, according to manager Joey Childress, which should make for a more pleasant shopping experience.

The three big changes: This Wal-Mart 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 those major changes, Childress noted the store will also feature some more subtle layout and design cues, aimed to create an easier and more pleasant shopping experience.

“This is a really great community, and we’re really excited to get open and give everyone a new shopping avenue,” Childress said. “We’ve been able to hire some really great associates and it’s been an easy process.”

By opening a Wal-Mart in north Cullman, Childress said he believes it will allow residents on the north side of the city and county easier access without having to travel 15-25 minutes to the south side of the city. Plus, with the location just off Interstate 65, Childress said he believes the new Walmart could be a major catalyst for growth.

“Our goal is to provide a shopping option on this side of the city, while also building up this side of town like the south side has already grown,” he said.

The new Wal-Mart on Alabama Highway 157 will create approximately 300 new jobs once it opens its 189,543 square-foot location. The development is located east of the joint Texaco and Wendy’s restaurant on 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 for access.

Once complete, the new store will mark the county’s second Wal-Mart, in conjunction with the existing location on Olive Street in south Cullman.

Along with the main Wal-Mart 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.