VIDEO: San Clemente's Walmart Gets an Update

After several weeks of moving shelves, adding refrigerator units, painting and overall refreshing, San Clemente Walmart celebrated a grand reopening today.

San Clemente’s Walmart opened in September 1999. Mark Strempek, an employee since the beginning, let the sales associates in a cheer, the San Clemente High School marching band played and Mayor Bob Baker and Councilman Jim Evert gave speeches.

Inside, the grocery area has been moved and expanded, the pharmacy and front reception area has new counters, a new self-checkout area, new signage and the beige and brown walls are now a soft blue.

Deb Dredden, market manager for several Walmarts in Orange County, thanked the customer for their patience.

“It’s not easy to be a patient and loyal customer when your Walmart is going through a remodel,” she said.

“The final outcome – I’m satisfied,” said store manager Michael Price. “I hope the customers are satisfied.”

Dredden offered these statistics for Walmart:

• 25 stores in Orange County
• $21.5 billion bought from California suppliers, farmers
• $3.2 billion bought from Orange County suppliers, farmers
• One Walmart impacts 17,000 jobs when considering the suppliers
• 1.3 million employees nationwide
• 6,000 in Orange County