The Walmart Supercenter in Penfield’s BayTowne Plaza has gotten a major refresh as part of a chainwide brand update.
The 186,000-square-foot store near Webster unveiled its new look Oct. 31.
“Everything you see in this store is based on customer feedback,” store manager Edward Bertus said during a recent tour.
What’s new outside at the BayTowne Walmart Supercenter?
Outside, the grocery pickup area has been moved from the south side of the building to the north side, and it’s been enlarged. The original grocery pickup area had parking spaces for 32 customers, and the new one has 45.
The old grocery pickup area is now a drive-thru pharmacy.
What’s new inside at the BayTowne Walmart Supercenter?
The BayTowne Walmart is one of 50 locations nationwide where new non-slip flooring at entrances has been installed, Bertus said.Inside, “Everything is 100% brand-new,” he said, from shelving to fixtures to signage.
New signage in the grocery department is black-and-white and sits at a lower height so it’s easier to read.
The aisles have been widened, too. “We gave space back to the customer so it’s not too congested,” Bertus said.
The most popular food items are now displayed in end caps.
And ingredients for holiday meals are being grouped in their own displays, which also is new. Currently, a Thanksgiving display includes such staples as broth, instant mashed potatoes, bread cubes, stuffing mix, green beans and baking supplies. (Turkeys are in the meat department.)
Pharmacy, optical and fashion
The store’s pharmacy and its optical department have been remodeled, and optical now features a wider range of eyeglass frames, Bertus said.
The Fashion Department has been reconfigured, and new displays and merchandise have been added.
“We’ve got more name brands — Reebok, Polo Association and Chaps,” Bertus said.
More staffed checkout aisles
Customers said they wanted more staffed checkouts, so self-checkouts have been reduced in number to 14, versus 20 for manned checkouts, he said.
The self-checkouts also have been reconfigured from a square layout to wide aisles, again to create more space.
Behind the scenes, the area where orders are prepared for pickup and delivery has been expanded as Walmart has ramped up same-day delivery service to compete with Amazon.
BayTowne Walmart history
The BayTowne Walmart Supercenter opened in September 2016, replacing a 120,000-square-foot Walmart that sold general merchandise but not groceries.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments and has an interest in retail news. Send story tips to mgreenwo@rocheste.gannett.com. Follow her on X @MarciaGreenwood.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Penfield Walmart Supercenter gets major store makeover. See inside
Reporting by Marcia Greenwood, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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