UPDATE: Walmart Open for Business

UPDATE (9:05 a.m.): Walmart is officially open for business.

Store associates and officials greeted a trickle of customers who arrived early Wednesday to be the first to walk the new Walmart's aisles. 

"This is the beginning of the relationship between Walmart and your community," said store manager Kevin Nechay. 

He presented $10,500 to local schools and departments during the store's ribbon-cutting ceremony. Of those grants...

• $3,500 went to Fairfax High School
• $2,000 to City of Fairfax Fire Department
• $1,000 to Fairfax Villa Elementary School
• $1,000 to Infant Family Toddler Care
• $1,000 to George Mason University Foundation
• $1,000 to Providence Elementary School

Fire Chief Dave Rohr intends to pass his department's award on to community members. Firefighters will give Walmart gift cards to families in need.

"If we go out and notice [a family in need of] diapers, we'll either give them a gift card for it or we'll go out and buy the diapers for them ourselves," he said.

Supervisor John Cook commended Walmart on providing 275 jobs and being a "great corporate citizen" to the Fairfax community. He, along with Nechay, cut a blue ribbon in front of cashier stalls, signaling the start of business.

Walmart took over 91,000 square feet of former Home Expo space next to Bloom, along Lee Highway. Situated just outside Fairfax City limits, the corporation went to Fairfax County in January for all permits and approvals. 

The store is smaller than its supercenter cousin in Fair Lakes. Classified as a "boutique," this new Walmart features an expanded grocery section, with wine and beer, frozen meals, produce, bakery and dairy elements, as well as the chain's traditional clothing, sporting goods, furniture and electronics offerings.

It's open now, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

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A new Walmart will open next to Bloom on Lee Highway Wednesday morning.

Customers can start shopping shortly after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. The store will be open 24 hours, seven days a week.

About 275 associates will work at the new Walmart, according to Nechay, who started working for the chain in 1998 as an hourly employee in Dover, Del. As of June, the average wage for full-time hourly employees at Walmarts in Virginia is about $11.84 per hour.

This Walmart will be smaller than its supercenter neighbor at Fair Lakes Shopping Center. At 91,000 square feet, it's slated to be the 13th discount version Walmart in Virginia.

“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for every-day necessities,” said Nechay. “By grouping the products that our customers most often purchase, including health and beauty and pet supplies, we are making one-stop shopping even easier.”

What to expect inside:

• Groceries, including a bakery, a deli, meat and dairy products.
• A deli that offers meal solutions for moms.
• Over 30 merchandise departments (think apparel, accessories, electronics, etc.).
• Digital photo processing center
• Walmart MoneyCenter

Check Patch tomorrow for more coverage.