New Walmart Near Palm Avenue to Open Friday

A new Walmart will open its doors to the public for the first time at 8 a.m. Friday, a company representative said.

The new 76,000-square-foot store will replace what was a vacant Mervyn's in the Southland Plaza Shopping Center.

Walmart will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week and 24 hours a day during the holidays from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Despite previous reports from the supermarket giant, some fruits and vegetables and other produce will be made available to customers.

The store is opening ahead of time, said spokeswoman Delia Garcia. Previously the store was expected to open in November.

"Until we open the store, really everything is subject to change: prices, hours of operation," Garcia said.

As part of the grand opening, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at at 7:30 a.m. Friday. 

Walmart and Walmart Foundation will donate $57,000 to the following organizations: Boys and Girls Club of South County, Emory Elementary School, San Diego Public Library Foundation, VIP Village Preschool, Imperial Beach Senior Center, Casa Familiar, San Diego Workforce Partnership, Montgomery High School Mariachi Band and Mar Vista High School NJROTC.

Roughly 200 employees were hired to work at the store.

San Diego's first Walmart Neighborhood Market opened in La Mesa last week.