To speeches, fanfare and balloons, and with smiles lighting up the faces of 250 newly employed people, the Auburn Walmart superstore opened its doors Wednesday morning.

Customers trickled into the store at 8 a.m. after a grand opening ceremony. Store manager Janet Faulkner and Market Manager Marc Pelham cut the ribbon, standing shoulder to shoulder with community and business leaders.

“I am absolutely looking forward to amazing success here,” Pelham told the large, enthusiastic crowd, which included many of the total of 450 employees. The old store employed 189 people.

“We’re going to make the city of Auburn proud. We’re really here for the customers, that’s what it’s all about,” Faulkner said.

City leaders were definitely pleased.

“It is definitely an increase in jobs and sales tax revenue and use of our land and all those things,” said Auburn City Councilman Rich Wagner. “It’s a winner all the way around for me.”

“It’s great to see new stores opening in Auburn, and that gives some indication of the recovery of the economy,” added Mike Hart, a member of the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce.

At 208,000 square feet, the new store – located at 762 Supermall Way SW, north of the Regal Cinemas – is 83,700 square feet larger than the old store at 1425 Supermall Way. As part of a three-party agreement among the City of Auburn, Walmart and Glimcher, which owns the SuperMall, the old store will be redeveloped or sold.

“The agreement says that within 90 days, one of the parties has to notify us who is going to proceed with redevelopment planning for the site,” said Kevin Snyder, planning director for the City of Auburn. “We don’t know if that means it’s going to be torn down. It’s redevelopment planning, and there are options for that. It could be kept and made part of a bigger redevelopment effort. We’re waiting to see who steps up.”

Faulkner said the new Walmart offers enhanced service and a layout designed to make things easier for customers. Designers aligned the most-frequently-used departments, including the pharmacy, which is adjacent to food so customers can pick up their prescriptions as they shop for their groceries.

“The layout of the store is easy to navigate, which will save our customers time as they shop for everyday necessities,” Faulkner said. “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.”

Faulkner said the bright interior color palette creates an inviting shopping experience and helps define the store’s merchandise areas. Lower shelving creates an improved sightline, and directional signage on every aisle helps customers find what they are looking for quickly, she said.

The new store combines the customer service desk, Site-to-Store pick-up location and photo lab in one area near the entrance. Customers now have easy access to these services and to associates to help meet their needs. More than 16 of the store’s associates have worked for Walmart for more than 10 years, including eight associates who have worked at the former store since its original opening in 1995.

The Auburn Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, includes energy-efficient technology and sustainable construction features designed to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s skylights harvest daylight and are designed to reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting used throughout the store is designed to operate 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting.

The cement in the concrete flooring is made with recycled materials, and the floor’s finish reduces the need for chemical cleaners. The design of the low-flow toilets and faucets will reduce the water used in the bathrooms. The new store also operates a recycling program and will promote sustainable product purchases.

The Walmart Foundation has presented $100,000 to the City of Auburn for neighborhood revitalization, in addition to more than $160,000 to local organizations. The following organizations have received funds or in-kind donations to support programs that serve the community: Northwest Harvest, Pediatric Infant Care Center and the Auburn School District.

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STORE FACTS

• Location: 762 Supermall Way SW, Auburn (formerly located at 1425 Supermall Way)

• Size: 208,000-square-foot Walmart, gaining 83,700 additional square feet

• Hours: Opens 8 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27, following a 7:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. Open 24 hours, seven days a week

• Store manager: Janet Faulkner

• Features: Full line of groceries including a bakery, a deli serving fresh food and meal solutions for moms, meat and dairy products, fresh produce and beer and wine. … More than 30 merchandise departments such as apparel and accessories, a lawn and garden center, health and beauty aids, and an expanded electronics department. … Convenience services include a pharmacy, vision center, portrait studio, digital photo processing center, Subway restaurant, nail salon and Walmart Connect Center.

• Employment: Store plans to employ approximately 450 associates, including 250 new positions created by the relocation. The average wage at Walmart for full-time hourly associates in Washington is approximately $12.82 per hour (Average wage taken September 2010. See www.walmartstores.com for details).