PULLMAN WALMART REOPENS

Congressman Bobby Rush during the reopening of Walmart. Rush spoke about the impact the Walmart, located at 10900 S. Doty Ave., has on the community. Photo By Tia Carol Jones
Congressman Bobby Rush during the reopening of Walmart. Rush spoke about the impact the Walmart, located at 10900 S. Doty Ave., has on the community. Photo By Tia Carol Jones

Pullman Walmart reopens
BY TIA CAROL JONES
     Walmart, located at 10900 Doty Avenue, host a grand reopening showcasing its new look on Friday, July 9. Walmart staff were joined by elected officials, higher education administrators, clergy and other community stakeholders.
     LaToyia Huggins, executive director of Christmas in the Wards, said the Pullman Walmart has been where Christmas in the Wards purchased laptops and done shopping for its annual Christmas in the Wards event. She said Walmart has empowered Christmas in the Wards to help families and communities make a way when they didn’t
 see a way.
     “None of us do this on our own, we do this as a team. So, I want you to know everything you do in this life, has an impact, whether it’s positive or negative, it has an impact,” she said.
     Dr. Cheryl Green, president of Governors State University, said the University caters to full-time working adults and the students can work at places like Walmart and go to school.
     “This is an investment in the community, and I am invested in this
community, and the Southland,” she said, adding that she was proud of the staff at Walmart.
     Brandon Nicholls, Ed.D., vice president of academic and student
affairs at Olive-Harvey College, said Walmart is an employment partner with Olive-Harvey College, providing opportunities for students to work while they are in school, as well as a true community partner.
     “We’ve been involved with Walmart for years, being able to support our students, and really serving as a onestop shop for our community,” he said, adding that he is a resident of the community. “Walmart serves as a building block.”
     Nichols said Walmart has provided employment and shopping opportunities, and it gives back and invests in the community, by making sure the dollars stay in the community. He said he remembered when Walmart was not at the Doty location.
     “Really being able to see that Walmart is still around to be the
anchor of this community, be an employment opportunity for our students, a community partner for our students and for our community to be able to bridge both education and citizenship together, that’s something that’s really valued,” he said. “It’s really about having
the opportunity to give back to the community.”
     Congressman Bobby Rush said whenever anything big happens on the south side, it emanates from the Pullman Walmart. He said the location has a neighborhood feel, with the spirit of a neighborhood corner store.
     “When we walk into the Walmart, everybody greets you. When you stand in line, with your food and your items, you don’t run into a hostile attitude. But, most of all, you hear about what your neighbors say about the Walmart. You have college presidents that have a testimony about the Walmart and how Walmart is affecting the neighborhood because it’s keeping our young children employed
with a job,” he said. “No matter how much things change, they stay the same if you have a heart to love and a heart to serve. This community has friends at Walmart. And, I don’t care how big it is, it still has the feel of that little corner store.”

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