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The new manager of the Kenai Wal-Mart store, Ferdinand Dominnique, addressed both Soldotna and Kenai Chambers of Commerce last week to announce that the new Super Center will have its grand opening March 31st. "We'll take possession of the building February 5th and you'll start to see our associates at the store from then on. And then on Wednesday, the 31st of March, we'll have the grand opening. From then on the store will be open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, closing only on Christmas day and re-opening the next morning at 6:00am," said Dominnique. According to the new store manager, everything has gone on schedule. "Roger Hickel has done a great job for us in constructing the building, and while it still may appear a bit incomplete on the exterior, the interior is just about complete and looking good," added Dominnique. "I really want to express the City's appreciation to Wal-Mart for the extra landscaping they did to beautify the appearance of the building. They went beyond what was called for and it's going to be an asset to our beautiful City," commented Kenai City Mayor Pat Porter.

Dominnique is moving his family to the Peninsula and says he plans on being a member of the community for a long time. "I have no plans on going anywhere else. I've been with Wal-Mart for six years, and ever since I heard about the Kenai project this has been my dream, and now my dream has been realized and my beautiful wife Shana and two-and-a-half son Ty are happy to call Kenai home," Ferdinand told the Dispatch. According to Dominnique, all the plans for the grand opening are not finalized yet, but the date is definitely March 31st. "It'll be as nice as possible, but as quick as possible as well too, because the most important thing is letting the folks get in there and do their shopping," he said.

U.S. Senator Mark Begich also addressed the Kenai Chamber Wednesday and expressed his appreciation for Wal-Mart's investment in Kenai and Alaska. The store will bring some 370 jobs to the Central Peninsula and according to Dominnique all but 7 of those positions will be hires from the local area and 80 percent will be full-time and the rest part-time. Dominnique said that currently they already have about 700 applicants for the Kenai store and more than 100 positions have already been filled. The new store will utilize 236,161 square feet, only 20% of which will be dedicated for warehousing stock. Of the 142,000 items the store plans to carry, 30,000 some will be Alaskan made items. He said that the store will include a beauty salon, Subway sandwich shop, and Denali Alaska Federal Credit Union branch. "We plan to carry what the community wants, not say what a Wal-Mart in Arkansas has like bass lures and snake bite kits," Dominnique laughed. "And yes, I have dealt with those items that were actually shipped to us at the Wasilla store. It'll take us awhile, but we hope the community will help us out with suggestions and we'll promise to respond to everything possible," he told the Chamber. Information on Wal-Mart hire can be found at the Wal-Mart hiring center next to the Peninsula Job Center in the Kenai Mall, or by going on line at www.walmart.com and clicking on the careers link.