Long-awaited Walmart holds North Huntingdon ribbon-cutting
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Katie Kratzenberg, Norwin High School student, sings at the opening.
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Ten years after it was initially proposed, a Walmart Supercenter has opened in North Huntingdon, with about 100 employees, and eager shoppers attending a 7 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.
At a reception the night before, Walmart awarded grants to a number of organizations, including $5,000 to the Norwin Chamber of Commerce, $2,000 to Irwin Volunteer Fire Department, $2,000 to the Irwin Project, $2,000 to the Rotary Club of Norwin, $2,500 to Westmoreland County Community College and $1,500 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region. The company also gave $50,000 to the Greater Pittsburgh Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
North Huntingdon commissioners, however, noted that no grants were given to the North Huntingdon fire departments, police or emergency medical services that will respond to emergencies at the Walmart.
"The cash registers [in the store] say 'Irwin' on them, and they refer to it as their Irwin store," North Huntingdon Commissioner Rich Gray said after the reception Tuesday evening. "They seemed to think their store is in Irwin Borough."
The store, which is at 915 Mills Drive off Barnes Lake Road, has an Irwin mailing address but is in North Huntingdon, according to a North Huntingdon emergency dispatcher.
Straw Pump Volunteer Fire Department in North Huntingdon would be the first fire department to respond to the store in an emergency, the dispatcher said. The second-closest fire department probably would be the one in Irwin, she said.
Mr. Gray said the North Huntingdon commissioners plan to send a letter to Walmart about the matter.
Wednesday's store opening came after a long and sometimes contentious process of public hearings and permit applications in North Huntingdon.
Becky Bilott of North Huntingdon, who was at the ribbon cutting, said she was glad the store opened but irritated that the approval process for it took so long.
Sam Kaye of North Huntingdon agreed, saying he has looked forward to the opening of Walmart for 10 years.
Some owners of shops in Irwin, however, expressed concern about the effect that Walmart might have on smaller businesses in the borough.
Bill Waldsmith, owner of Pamela's Card and Gifts in Irwin, said he believes the opening of the Walmart will hurt business at Irwin stores.
"Whenever a Walmart has come, it hurt small businesses," he said.
As the grand opening approached, Lois Woleslagle, president of the Irwin Business and Professional Association and owner of Interiors by Woleslagle, said she is not concerned that the Walmart will drive Irwin stores out of business.
The Irwin business district survived the opening of Norwin Town Square shopping plaza, Norwin Hills Shopping Plaza and the opening of Target in North Huntingdon Square, she said.
"We have a good base of customers who love Irwin and still come here to buy," she said. "I think we have something really unique in Irwin."
Joyce Dean, owner of Victorian Treasures in Irwin, also said she wasn't worried because items that Walmart sells, which she described as "food and cheap decorations," are not what she sells in her store.
"I think people still like to shop the small towns that have unique stores," she said.
Immediately before the ribbon cutting, Dustin Bingham of Cornerstone Ministries near Delmont blessed the facility with prayer and soon afterward, shoppers streamed into the new store.
Robert Love of Hempfield was shopping at the store with his wife, Kathy Love.
"We buy almost everything at Walmart," he said. "We couldn't wait until this opened up."
First Published January 26, 2012 12:00 am
