New Walmart center opens doors
August 26, 2009

Store will create revenue, jobs, shopping opportunities for area

Parkers Walmart store opened in mid-July, providing area residents with new shopping opportunities as well as a slew of new jobs and a new revenue source for CRIT.

The Grand Opening ceremony took place in the early morning on July 15, and shoppers were streaming in and out of the store just a couple of hours later.

It has enjoyed a steady stream of sales and traffic since its opening.

The Grand Opening ceremony included performances from Native singers and dancers as well as non-Native performers. Tribal Chairman Eldred Enas spoke at the event, as did Vice Chairman Wayne Patch, Sr. and Store Manager Shannon Madigral.

The store is the anchor tenant in the new River Peoples Plaza, and is located on Highway 95 between about halfway between downtown Parker and the BlueWater Resort & Casino.

Previously, area residents were forced to go to Lake Havasu City if they wished to shop at a store such as Walmart.

The opening of this store is a tremendous milestone for our community, said Tribal Chairman Eldred Enas.

It not only provides our residents with more shopping choices, it also will serve as an economic engine that will provide jobs and revenue to CRIT and its members.

The Walmart store is about 100,000 square feet and includes groceries and general merchandise. The center will include a variety of other stores as well.

CRIT is currently working on leasing four parcels along Highway 95 as part of the project. CRIT is leading the effort so that it has control over the types of businesses that come into the community and can secure the revenue streams created from those stores.

There have been no leases signed on the four parcels that front the road, but they have talked to several retailers that like to locate their businesses near Walmart stores.

Walmart accounts for 11 acres of the 23-acre shopping center site. CRIT will control the other 12 acres.

The targeted opening date for the Walmart had originally been July 22, so the project was completed slightly ahead of schedule.

The new Wal-Mart store will be an economic shot in the arm by creating an estimated 200 new jobs and up to $400,000 per year in sales tax revenue for CRIT, which will help fund youth, elder and other important Tribal programs.