Neighborhood Market Management Team In Place

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Jesse Pinkston, center, manager of Farmington’s Neighborhood Market, and assistant managers Stephanie Parrett, left, Scott Reeves, Ryan Floyd and Mitzi Bowers are preparing for the store’s Aug. 13 grand opening.
LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Jesse Pinkston, center, manager of Farmington’s Neighborhood Market, and assistant managers Stephanie Parrett, left, Scott Reeves, Ryan Floyd and Mitzi Bowers are preparing for the store’s Aug. 13 grand opening.

FARMINGTON -- The new Walmart Neighborhood Market opens Wednesday, Aug. 13, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and plans to give away around $7,000 in grants to various organizations, according to store manager Jesse Pinkston.

The grand opening ceremony will be at 7:30 a.m. and the store, located at Grace Lane and Main Street across from City Hall, will open to the public at 8 a.m.

Pinkston and his family have relocated to Farmington and he said he's received a warm welcome, both professionally and personally. He and his wife have been married 22 years and they have four children and two grandchildren. He said his youngest child, a high school sophomore, will eventually transfer to the Farmington school system.

"I appreciate the fact we've had nothing but a warm welcome from the Farmington community," Pinkston said. "My team and associates have been working hard to put together a store the community will be proud of. We will be highly involved in the community."

Pinkston has been with Walmart for 17 years, starting as an hourly associate in Fort Smith. He's been a salaried employee for 15 years and has worked as an assistant manager and co-manager, before moving into his first manager's position in Farmington.

Pinkston said Walmart has provided him with a good career and he's spent most of his time in the River Valley area.

"The opportunities have been endless with Walmart and it's a great place to have a part-time job for extra money and has all the opportunities to make it a life-long career."

Pinkston's management staff will include assistant managers Stephanie Parrett, who has been with Walmart for six years; Jabo Ryan Floyd, who has been with Walmart nine years; Mitzi Bowers, who has been with the company since April 1987; and Scott Reeves, who has been with Walmart almost 1 1/2 years.

The new store will have 90 part-time and full-time employees. Several of the employees transferred from other Walmart stores but the majority are people who are new to Walmart. Pinkston said the store is still accepting applications for employment.

"They all are excited about getting the store opened and seeing the community," Pinkston said.

Farmington's Neighborhood Market will be open 24 hours, seven days a week. It has 41,000 square feet and 132 parking spaces. Services provided will include a drive-through pharmacy, full-line of fresh produce and a full-service deli, including rotisserie chicken, smoked ribs and smoked tenderloin.

Customers will be able to order online through the site to store program with free shipping to the store. Pinkston said, for example, a customer could order a swing set or a swimming pool online and have it delivered free to the store.

Access to the store will be available from Main Street or Grace Lane. A traffic signal at the intersection is expected to be ready in time for the store's grand opening.

General News on 07/30/2014