Mountain Island Walmart holds grand reopening

Major renovations continue to ripple across area Walmarts, with the latest overhaul set to be unveiled tomorrow (Friday) at the Mountain Island location, at N.C. 16 and Mount Holly-Huntersville Road in Charlotte.

The store will mark the completion of the three-month project with a ceremony at 10 a.m., plus free samples and demos from vendors. As with other remodeled Walmarts, the Mountain Island store will sport the retailing giant's latest look, with a new layout, wider aisles, brighter colors, new signage and lower-profile shelving for improved sightlines.

The electronics department has more than doubled in size, reflecting the company's increased push to gain market share in that area, and will offer a more hands-on experience, with interactive Blu-Ray, video game and portable electronics displays. The store will also house an improved digital photo lab with banner and poster printing capabilities, as well as a new department called Celebration Station, featuring party supplies. The pharmacy will have a completely new format, the company said.

The outside has also been spruced up, with a new paint scheme and signage, a restriped parking lot and an expanded garden center. The store employs about 400, including about 45 positions added as a result of the renovations. 

The West Gastonia Walmart also recently wrapped up a revamp, and work is under way at the East Franklin Boulevard location in Gastonia, which is on track for a July completion.