By George Anderson
Wal-Mart is opening a new, temporary concept store to help residents of the Gulf Coast struggling to put their lives back together following Hurricane Katrina.
The new 57,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Express will open up within a Wal-Mart Supercenter in Waveland, Miss. The store is focusing on stocking products of immediate need to local residents, such as cleaning products, paint, appliances and clothing.
"We are rebuilding our store as this community rebuilds," store manager Ray Cox told the Biloxi Sun Herald. "We will be able to change our product assortment as the needs of Waveland change."
Wal-Mart intends to convert the Express store back to a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the future.
The Express store will operate 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. As part of its grand opening celebration, Wal-Mart will donate $10,000 to local schools.
Moderator's Comment: What are your thoughts on Wal-Mart's Express concept and its response to the hurricanes? What can others learn from Wal-Mart's response? - George Anderson - Moderator