The Heber Walmart at 1274 South U.S. 189 opens today at 8:15 a.m. after a grand opening planned for 7:30 a.m.
A new Chase Bank location on the same lot is also expected to open Wednesday, said Heber planning director Tony Kohler.
This is the first phase of a Boyer Company commercial development named Valley Station. Kohler said the next phase is likely to begin later this fall or early next year.
The Walmart Super Center is 105,000 square feet with more than 30 departments including groceries, a garden center, electronics, a pharmacy, photo processing plus a tire and lube express center. It will be open 24 hours every day of the week.
The store estimates it will employ 200 people. The corporation’s average wage for full-time hourly associates is $11.85 per hour.
Scott Murdoch of Springville is the new store’s manager. He began his career with Walmart in 1994 in Logan.
Murdoch’s great-great-grandfather was an original settler of the Heber Valley in 1860, he said.
Having spent much of his career managing stores in small towns, Murdoch said he believes the super center will help, not hurt, the local business community.
In Mesquite, Nevada, many people drove to St. George, Utah, to do all their shopping. When a Walmart opened there, people began staying in Mesquite to shop and it helped everyone, he said.
“I have every reason to believe that may happen here,” he said.
The corporation also touts the fact that Walmart gives grants to community organizations. It estimates $14,000 will be available for groups throughout the year.