Photos: Steve Marcotte / OsideNews

Oceanside CA- The Walmart Neighborhood Market at 1046 Mission Ave., was officially opened for business this morning. A band from Oceanside High School provided the music and the OHS ROTC presented the Colors. Oceanside Mayor, Jim Wood gave a short speech welcoming the business to Oceanside and the 65 new full and part-time jobs created by the stores opening. The mayor also praised Walmart’s ‘Veterans Welcome Home Commitment’ program as 12 of the 65 new jobs were filled by veterans.
Grants from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation were presented to the Veterans Association of North County, Oceanside Chamber Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Oceanside, the Women’s Resource Center, the Oceanside High School Community Foundation and the El Camino Wildcat Foundation.
Eager shoppers began streaming through the door before the Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony was completed. The smaller, green themed, stores provide local residents with convenient access to a full grocery department, pharmacy, a deli and self serve bakery to a downtown area that has not had a full service grocery store for several years. Health and beauty aids, pet supplies, cleaning products, a digital photo processing center and Walmart’s Site to Store shipping are also available at the new market.
The Walmart Neighborhood Market concept began in 1998. Walmart operates about 250 Neighborhood Markets across the country, including 24 in California. The opening of the Oceanside store coincides with the opening of a similar store in Escondido, 1266 East Valley Parkway.
Hours for the store are; 6:00AM to 11:00PM 7 days a week
Pharmacy hours are;

• 9:00AM-9:00PM Monday-Friday
• 9:00AM-7:00PM Saturday
• 10:00AM-6:00PM Sunday

A ‘Big Family Welcome’ is scheduled for Saturday, February 1st, Noon-3:00PM to give customers a chance to meet the new store managers, enjoy family activities and sample free food. The store also has a Facebook page