A new-look Walmart and new Dunkin comes to Hernando
Hernando-area shoppers Friday welcomed a new look to a familiar place to shop for low prices and also celebrated a new place to grab a cup of coffee and a sweet pastry treat before or after their shopping endeavors.
Friday morning was the official celebration of the Walmart Supercenter remodel and the grand opening for a new Dunkin’ coffee shop on East Commerce Street.
Walmart remodeling celebration
Hernando Walmart store manager Renata Stigger said the Supercenter has undergone a complete transformation, and among the changes are moving pharmacy to a new location and online product delivery (OPD) is now in an expanded building to take larger orders.
“Pretty much everything in the store got a whole new brand new look,” Stigger said, adding the grocery area was the only area that was not moved to a new location.
The remodel project started with the OPD area in mid-December. The inside remodeling began in late January with Friday being the grand re-opening.
Customers will see brighter lighting and a fresh look and signage throughout the Supercenter with Stigger saying corporate Walmart invested about $6.8 million into the remodeling project.
Dunkin’ grand opening
A city that already has several local coffee shops got another one Friday with the grand opening of its first Dunkin’ shop location at 151 E. Commerce Street in Hernando.
You may know the franchise as Dunkin’ Donuts but as Juliana Pavanatti, Director of Marketing and New Store Openings franchisee IDH Alliance said, “We’re all on a first name basis here. We’re very excited to be here.”
The new concept of Dunkin Donuts as Dunkin’ with merchandising right up front is very appealing for everybody, especially for kids, Pavanatti said. Everything customers look for is in the new store.
“We still sell donuts and everything but yes, I think Dunkin is more of what we’re calling ourselves,” she said, adding the growth and activity in Hernando attracted Dunkin to settle in the city.
“There is no doubt that a lot is happening in Hernando and being here just made sense for us,” she said.
As part of Friday’s grand opening, the first 100 people lined up at the store at 5 a.m. Friday got free coffee for a year. A similar grand opening event was held Thursday, May 16 at a new store location in Cordova, Tennessee.
IDH Alliance, which brought Dunkin’ to Hernando, has 72 stores in five Southeast states and has plans for more DeSoto County locations.
