What’s new after Huntley Walmart’s ribbon-cutting ceremony?

Huntley — On Friday, June 3, the Walmart located at 12300 Route 47 held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the completion of remodeling efforts that added new features to the store.

Huntley’s Walmart remained open during the remodeling phase much to the dismay of some customers who had to get used to a new layout as the location of products shifted to new areas of the store.

“So, first of all, I promise that nothing is moving now for five years,” Walmart Store Manager Jim Hattendorf stated during a Facebook Live video. “As painful as it was for everybody else, it was even worse for us. So, I promise you I don’t want to do it anymore. We did add some new things in the store.”

Nancy Binger, Huntley Area Chamber of Commerce executive director, was in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and asked Hattendorf about the newest additions to the store.

“There’s a grab and go section at the front of the food entrance. That’s there just for convenience items so people can come in and just grab one thing that they need and then leave,” he told Binger. “We also moved the pharmacy to the front of the store.”

The new location of the pharmacy has been the biggest change for customers, according to Hattendorf.

“Yeah, it took some getting used to. We still have people asking, but it was really about convenience and so, those folks that are sick or elderly they don’t have to walk through the store and come in and get their medicine. They’re able to get it right in front,” he said.

Hattendorf told Binger that in addition to the grab and go section, Huntley’s Walmart also includes an area where customers can find all sorts of items that cost as low as $1.

“I didn’t think that was going to be a big deal but so many people have been thanking me for adding that in the store,” Hattendorf explained, adding that he was surprised at the success of the budget item section.

That section can be found at the entrance by the FedEx Office Print and Ship Center, opposite the food entrance.

“Lastly, they really expanded the assortment in food. We probably got a couple thousand new items and food that we didn’t carry before. So, that’ll be good for our customers,” said Hattendorf.

The number of self-checkout registers has also been increased, allowing for a more time-efficient shopping experience.