Grand opening of new club set for Thursday

ORLANDO, Fla. -- (Business Wire)

Sam’s Club is looking to transform the way Central Floridians shop by providing a mobile app which allows shoppers to bypass the traditional checkout process. Scan & Go shopping is just one of many features of the brand new Lake Nona Sam’s Club located at 11920 Narcoossee Road in Orlando.

The Walmart-owned membership warehouse will officially open Thursday, Jan. 19 following an 8 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony. No membership is required to attend the grand opening celebration. Nonmembers are welcome to check out the club by asking for a one day pass at the Membership desk.

No need to wait in line

Here’s how Scan & Go works: For those who want to spend their time doing something other than standing in line are encouraged to download the free Sam’s Club Scan & Go app which allows members to use their smartphone to scan and pay for their own items. When the shopping is done, the member skips the traditional line and simply shows a digital receipt to an associate at the door.

“Our goal is to create the best shopping experience possible for our members,” said Club Manager David Spear. “The idea behind Scan & Go is to help save time for our members while addressing one of the biggest consumer complaints in retail – waiting in line at check out.”

More ways to shop

The Lake Nona club will also offer the drive-thru convenience of Club Pickup - a concierge service for members who prefer to place an online order and have the items ready for pickup at a scheduled time. Sam’s Club associates serve as personal shopping assistants handpicking the items to fulfill the order. When members arrive at the club, they can use mobile check-in or the drive-thru kiosk to alert an associate who will bring the items out to the member’s vehicle.

New club features

The Walmart-owned membership warehouse in Lake Nona will include the following features:

• Full service sushi bar and expanded seafood selection.
• Fresh Island offering organic and grass-fed beef and other premium meats.
• Two spacious walk-in coolers designed to keep dairy and produce as fresh as possible.
• Upgraded café with digital ordering station for those who want to self-order and pay upon entering the line.
• Health and Wellness Center consisting of a pharmacy, hearing center and optical department.

Commitment to community

As part of the grand opening festivities, Sam’s Club will be awarding $25,000 in grants to several local nonprofit organizations. The company empowers club managers and associates to identify and support community efforts in and around the neighborhoods they serve.

“Giving back is part of the Sam’s Club culture, and these contributions mark the beginning of our club’s commitment to serving the Lake Nona area,” said Speer.

Grand opening ceremony to feature local officials, special events

Orlando City Commissioner Jim Gray and members of the Lake Nona Regional Chamber of Commerce will be among those attending Thursday’s grand opening ceremony. The Lake Nona High School ROTC will present the colors and associate Jessica Fritz will sing the national anthem. The Lake Nona High School Marching Band will also be performing at the celebration.

To add to the excitement, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood will be signing autographs for fans at the new club on grand opening day - Thursday, Jan. 19 from 2-4 p.m. Sam’s Club will also showcase a variety of food samples and product demonstrations grand opening weekend including Chef Shamy Gourmet Butters, Vitamix Blenders, and Atmospheric Water Solutions.

Membership information

Being a member of Sam’s Club means more than a membership card in a wallet – it means exclusive access to great products, brands and services, all at amazing values. Sam's Club memberships range from $45 to $100.

As part of a grand opening membership promotion, residents can get up to a $30 gift card when they sign up as a new member through Jan. 22. Membership teams are available at the fuel station to sign up members prior to Thursday’s grand opening.

About Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club®, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products, savings and services to millions of members in 655 clubs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. To learn more about Sam’s Club, visit the Sam’s Club Newsroom, shop at SamsClub.com, and interact with Sam’s Club on Twitter and Facebook.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170118005900/en/

Contacts:

Sam’s Club
Dianna Gee, 800-331-0085
Dianna.Gee@samsclub.com

Source: Sam’s Club