Forsyth’s relocated Walmart opens

The new Walmart in Forsyth opens today following a ceremony including the Mary Persons High School chorus and band, a Boy Scout troop and cheerleaders.

The store will open to the publictoday following the 7:30 a.m. grand opening event.

Walmart has relocated into a new 152,000-square-foot store at 180 N. Lee St. from its old 41,000-square-foot building at 120 N. Lee St.

About 150 new jobs were created by the new store, which now employs about 240 workers, according to a news release. Five employees have worked at the Forsyth store since it opened in April 1986.

“This new Walmart store is a great indicator of the growth and opportunities that are anticipated for Forsyth,” Mayor Tye Howard said in the release.

The store includes a grocery department, an expanded electronics department, pharmacy, photo processing, hair salon and a Subway restaurant.

Energy-efficient technology was used in the building, including skylights to reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily, the release stated. Also, the cement in the concrete floor is made with recycled materials.

The store is open 24 hours daily.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223.