MOORESVILLE, N.C., Jan. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sam's Club will open its new Mooresville club at 646 River Highway following an 8 a.m. Grand Opening ceremony Thursday, January 23, adding new jobs and a membership shopping experience to the region. The membership warehouse club will give residents and small business owners the opportunity to access incredible savings on exclusive merchandise, in-demand brands and top-quality items, including products made in North Carolina.

Sam's Club is opening its first club in Iredell County, having worked with local leaders to create the new shopping experience for residents of the region.

"Mooresville is our home. We live here, raise our families here and now serve our friends and neighbors at the Mooresville club," said local Sam's Club Manager Patrick Walker. "We appreciate the great support from our local dignitaries and local organizations, and we plan to further these relationships for many years to come."

Grand Opening ceremony features local officials, special events
Mayor Miles Atkins will be among those speaking at Thursday's Grand Opening ceremony. Additionally, members of the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce will be participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Welcome Home Veterans Museum will present the colors and local associate Thelma Miller will perform the national anthem.

"It has been a pleasure and a privilege to help open the Sam's Club in Mooresville. To have a new organization enter our community and embrace all individuals, specifically our non-profits, is extraordinary," said the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce President Kirk Ballard. "We are happy to support them and their efforts to bring jobs and opportunities in Mooresville."

During the Grand Opening, Sam's Club will showcase a variety of special events inside the club from local companies such asFirst and Ten Sports Den,Boquete Mountain Coffee and Mother Shuckers Cocktail Sauce. Also, Sam's Club will continue the excitement during the Grand Opening by hosting special appearances with Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen and NASCAR driver Jeffrey Earnhardt.

The Mooresville Fire and Rescue Department will provide free batteries while supplies last at Sam's Club on Thursday, courtesy of Duracell, to recharge smoke detectors as the new year is a great time to assess the security of your home.

In addition, immunizations will be offered Opening Day from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and continue to be offered at Sam's Club while supplies last. Free health screenings will also be given to assess total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, bone density and vision and hearing screening testing, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Quality products help small businesses and busy families
Sam's Club is bringing a unique experience to Mooresville, providing a shopping opportunity that allows members to stock up and save on a variety of family and small business needs. Busy families can rely on fresh produce, quality meats and home meal solutions, while office supplies, vending machine snacks and paper goods prepare small business members for success. Additional benefits for small business owners include early shopping hours, personal shopping through Click 'n' Pull®, truck-load savings, and access to quality items most often used by foodservice businesses, restaurant owners and caterers.

Measuring approximately 136,000 square feet, the new club will feature a variety of members-only amenities, including a fresh bakery, a tire and battery center, a cafe and a fuel station.

A number of health and wellness services are also available. The Sam's Club Pharmacy, open to both members and the public, features many $4 and $10 generic prescriptions, as well as extraordinary savings on branded prescriptions. In addition to everyday low prices, the Optical Center offers $40 off each additional pair of regularly priced prescription eyeglasses with the purchase of a complete pair of eyeglasses at regular price. Lastly, at the Hearing Aid Center, premium technology in hearing aids and personal listening devices is available from a certified audiologist.

New club brings 160 new jobs to community, local giving
To staff the new Mooresville Sam's Club, Sam's Club has hired 160 new associates. Walmart and Sam's Club employ more than 52,000 people in North Carolina.

"Sam's Club has provided me and my family many opportunities throughout the years," said Walker. "I intend to ensure all of my associates are offered a career they can be proud of and a chance to reach their professional and personal goals."

Sam's Club also has a commitment to give back to the communities it serves. The Mooresville Sam's Club location recently provided funds for the Welcome Home Veterans Living Military Museum to replace their roof. Several local non-profit organizations will benefit from special grants as part of the Grand Opening celebration, including Angels and Sparrows Soup Kitchen, Dove House Children's Advocacy Center, SCAN, Friends of Animals, Hope House Foundation, Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, Lake Norman Women's Magazine, Mooresville Christian Mission, Mooresville Rotary Club, Mooresville Soup Kitchen, Rolling Thunder Charities, Rotary Club of Troutman, Top of the Lake Rotary Club of Mooresville, VFW Post 2031 and YMCA of Greater Charlotte.

"The Board of Welcome Home Veterans at Richard's Coffee Shop/Military Museum is honored to have Sam's Club as a supporting sponsor," said David Parkins, a member of the Welcome Home Veterans Board. "Since a great many of our Veterans are older, they will enjoy the discounts, ease of access of the new location, and the clean uncluttered shopping environment that Sam's Club offers."

Membership Information
A Sam's Club membership is an investment that more than pays for itself. Whether buying for a household or a business, a Sam's Club member can access exclusive savings on merchandise and outstanding benefits. With access to additional Instant Savings, early shopping hours, and additional discounts on pharmacy and optical services, Sam's Plus memberships offer even more with additional great benefits. Sam's Plus memberships are $100 annually. Sam's Savings memberships and Sam's Business memberships are $45 annually, and include Instant Savings loaded directly onto Member's cards. Special savings for college students and military families are also available. For more information, visit SamsClub.com/membership.

About Sam's Club
Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is the nation's eighth largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products and services in more than 630 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.

SOURCE Sam's Club