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The store held its official grand opening Wednesday morning, and hundreds of people showed up to shop.
The retailer hired 280 people to staff the new store, and it's one of the few in the valley to offer a full line of groceries.
It's located right next to a Super Target, but shoppers say they're happy to have both options. City officials say it will keep critical sales tax revenue in Atwater.
Howard Pasley said, "I'm so glad they moved down here in Atwater because that 8-10 mile drive to Merced was a hassle!"
Atwater City Manager, Stan Feathers said, "Now those dollars that are going to be spent by our local residents will stay inside the community, and most of those dollars will go toward providing police and fire services."
A one million square foot Walmart Distribution Center is also being built southeast of Merced, that's expected to employ 12-hundred people.
