Walmart opening redesigned Virginia store following 2022 shooting
- Walmart will reopen its Chesapeake, Virginia, store that closed following a mass shooting last year.
- The store is redesigned and includes an outdoor memorial area to honor the victims.
- Seven people, including the gunman, were killed.
Walmart is gearing up to reopen its Chesapeake, Virginia, store about five months after seven people died during a mass shooting there.
The retailer in an April 3 release said the store would reopen to shoppers on April 19. Walmart says “significant” design changes have been made to the store following the November 22 shooting. The gunman, who was one of the seven who died, worked at the store.
The redesigned Walmart location features an outdoor memorial space dedicated to the victims of the shooting, which includes six seating spaces to honor the six Walmart employees who were killed in the shooting. Walmart began hiring positions for the store in February, according to local outlet 13NewsNow.
"We are deeply touched by the community’s compassion and support as we continue to heal from last year’s tragedy," said Alycia Mixon, Walmart store manager, in the release. "As we move forward with our reopening, we do so in a way that honors the victims and provides continued support to our associates."
The redesigned store will reopen following a 9 a.m. ceremony, according to the release. Walmart shoppers at the store will see expanded options that include more interactive displays, Walmart said.
“Our associates have been working hard to prepare the store for the community, and they look forward to welcoming back our customers,” Mixon said in the release.