Residents Excited for New Walmart Neighborhood Market

For almost two decades, an abandoned grocery store has been taking up space and darkening the city’s bright future. Now, Walmart has stepped in, restoring the building and bringing the community a new Neighborhood Market at which to shop.

Employees are celebrating while the checkout lines are empty, but they won’t stay empty for long. D’Iberville resident and housekeeper at Country Inn and Suites, Jennifer Ross, couldn’t be happier about the new Neighborhood Market. Ross says, "It’s really convenient. They’ve got really good prices, a lot of good stuff, and it keeps my husband employed, so I love it."

She isn’t the only one ready for the grand opening of the Walmart Neighborhood Market in D’Iberville, as dozens were on hand for the friends and family reception Monday night, turning this once abandoned building into a community get together. Jim Hasty, Store Manager of the D’Iberville Neighborhood Market, says, "It’s very important to us to service the community. This site was empty for a long time, as you said. We’ve got a beautiful building here with easy access."

Residents used to have to travel across town for even the smallest purchases, but this new central location not only makes shopping easier, but adds jobs and revenue for the city. Randall Pelous, D’Iberville City Councilman for Ward 1, says, "When you bring in more revenue for the city, the taxes here in D’Iberville doesn’t increase, so that’s our goal, to keep business brought into D’Iberville, and that’s how you run your city. You don’t have to ask your constituents for tax money, they stay the same."

The change from an abandoned building to a state of the art Neighborhood Market is a big economic boost for D’Iberville, which is growing quickly and shows no signs of stopping. Rusty Quave, Mayor of D’Iberville, says, "Actually, this is the first commercial building rebuild in the flooded area of D’Iberville since Hurricane Katrina. We’ve built government buildings back, but this is the first private building to be built, so we’re proud about that, and I think we can grow on that and you’ll see more development to occur between downtown and the new casino project."

These additions are all part of a larger plan to restore D’Iberville to its former glory, and residents feel this is a step in the right direction. Ross closes, "It is very nice. It looks a lot better than what it used to, so people have something to look forward to coming here."

The new Walmart Neighborhood Market in D’Iberville will officially open Wednesday at 7:30 a.m., along with another Neighborhood Market in Biloxi on Pass Road.

Categories: Local News, News

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