Walmart Opens New Stores in Little Village, Lakeview & Back of the Yards

  Stores employ about 350 people and provide new, affordable grocery options for residents; Three new store managers have a combined 39 years of experience with Walmart

    Chicago residents in three communities now have a new, convenient and affordable option for all their grocery shopping needs.  Walmart opened three Walmart Neighborhood Markets in the city today in the neighborhoods of Little Village, Lakeview and Back of the Yards. The new stores, about one-fifth the size of a supercenter, employ a combined total of 350 people and provide customers with a new choice for fresh food. The new managers running these stores all got their start in Illinois and have close to four decades of combined experience with the company.

    “With our smaller format, our store is perfect for those on the go,” said Lakeview Store Manager Eric Galle, who began his Walmart career in 2001 as a cart pusher at the retailer’s Joliet store. “Whether they’re stocking up or need to pick up just a few items, our customers will be able to find what they need quickly and easily. Consumers will be able to find familiar brands and local products at great values, right in their own neighborhood.”

     Eric Jones, who began his Walmart career 12 years ago as an assistant manager in Orland Hills, will manage Back of the Yards and Fabian Lehaney will oversee Little Village.  Mr. Lehaney has been with Walmart since 1996 and started in the company’s Elk Grove Village store.
“Eric, Fabian and Eric are examples of the career opportunities available at Walmart as well as our ability to retain talented people,” said Labeed Diab, Senior Vice President, Walmart U.S. “Three quarters of our store management teams across the country started as hourly associates and more than 250,000 associates have been with the company for more than 10 years - these three individuals are a living representation of those statistics. I couldn’t be more proud of their success and look forward to watching them deliver for our Chicago customers.”