On a sunny spring morning, store associates and community members celebrated the grand reopening of the Walmart Supercenter 1204 on Nelson Rd.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was hosted in front of the story on Friday

Every corner of the store was renovated with sleek and modern designs, featuring an upgraded apparel section, enhanced home and baby section displays, improved bathrooms, optimized modular set-ups and fresh paint on the walls.

“We’ve went all out to make sure that when you walk in, you see the newest. The best,” said Store manager Cody Cole.

Lake Charles City Administrator John Cardone deemed the renovations “spectacular” and a great benefit to the community. He noted that the Nelson Rd. location is one of the first facilities in Lake Charles to get a full functional and aesthetic overhaul.

The renovation “journey” started 18 months ago, Cole said. It took “all hands on deck” to ensure that the store operations were seamless during the process. He thanked customers for being patient during renovations.

“We hope that when you walk through those doors we can give you the best shopping experience that you deserve”

To give back to the community, the store distributed three grants to local organizations. The American Cancer Society received $2,500, DeWanna’s Closet $1,500 and the Imperial Calcasieu Museum $1,000.

To highlight 1204’s associates, two employees were presented with service awards. Robert Courville was given an award for 10 years of employment, and Jennifer Thomas was given a plaque (and flowers) for 35 years of Walmart experience under her belt.

Vendors were spread out inside and outside the store to give out free merchandise to customers to celebrate the renovations. Accompanying the outside vendors was the Washington-Marion High School Marching Jukebox.

Other attendees included a transformer, Chester Cheetah and the Pillsbury Doughboy.