No Revolution

Wal-Mart opens new store concept for disaster impacted areas

NOVEMBER 18, 2005 -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Bentonville, Ark., yesterday announced the grand opening of the new "Wal-Mart Express" on the site of its formerly damaged Wal-Mart Supercenter in Waveland, Miss. This new store format will offer a merchandise mix solely focused on the unique needs of this community still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Operating more recently as a "tent store" to provide basic needs for residents, the new store will open its doors tomorrow at 8 a.m.

The Wal-Mart Express is a new store concept that differs from the footprint of a typical Wal-Mart store. The 57,000-sq.-ft. store can be entered through the store's original front entrance and is enclosed within the original 205,800-sq.-ft. building by dust-proof, insulated walls. The merchandise mix will differ from a typical Wal-Mart store, focusing on essential items, in the quantities and sizes needed for this community, as they continue to rebuild from the storm. Wal-Mart plans to eventually return the Waveland store to a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the future.