MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Walmart opened a week later than it had previously planned, but this delay only seemed to make the surrounding community more eager to see the inside of the store.

On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 18, Marysville Walmart Store Manager Sonia Smith was joined by fellow Walmart employees and dignitaries from the Marysville community alike in cutting the ribbon to the store.

“It took teamwork and long hours from our associates, who spent a lot of time away from their families, to make the Marysville Walmart so great,” said Smith, who also expressed her gratitude to her management team, Burke Construction, the Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce and the Marysville community for their parts in making the store’s opening possible. “I also want to thank my husband Jeremy for putting up with me for the past several months, and especially the last five weeks.”

Chamber Chair John Bell credited the Marysville Walmart with contributing the economic growth of the area by creating 300 new jobs at its store, and by contributing to consumer interest in surrounding retailers.

“The Chamber has eagerly awaited this day,” said Bell, who commented on the store employees’ opening round of cheers by describing their enthusiasm as infectious. “East Marysville is a quickly growing area with real retail needs. It’s been great getting to know Sonia Smith, and we look forward to working with her into the future.”

Marysville City Council member Donna Wright likewise noted the morning’s “great turnout,” which saw shoppers filtering steadily through the Marysville Walmart’s doors well before its opening ceremonies were complete.

“New businesses help build communities,” Wright said.

Mary Jane Hayes, who had served as the Good Works Coordinator for the Tulalip Walmart, once again handed out oversized checks from the Walmart Foundation to community service groups local to the Walmart store being opened.

“This is such an exciting time to be part of the Marysville community,” said Hayes, who proudly touted having been born and raised in the town. “Before this store was even open, it was giving back to the community. During the Marysville ‘Clean Sweep’ in April, our people were at every entrance to the city, pulling weeds, planting flowers and spreading beauty bark.”

Hayes presented checks for $1,000 to the Marysville Strawberry Festival, $1,500 each to the Marysville Sunrise Rotary and the Marysville Police Department, and $2,000 each to the Marysville Boys & Girls Club and the Marysville Community Food Bank.

“We also have a Salvation Army truck outside, that we’re trying to fill with toys in time for the Christmas season,” Hayes said.

Lt. Dawn Apuan, of the Everett Corps of the Salvation Army, reported that they provide four hot meals a week to families in need, and gifts to as many as 1,000 children over the holiday season.

“We’re trying to fill our canteen with toys here,” Apuan said on Sept. 18. “It’s only 97 days until Christmas.”

Although she didn’t deliver a speech during the ceremony, Marysville City Council member Kamille Norton admitted that the upcoming holidays are giving her ample reasons to come to the Marysville Walmart.

“With four kids who have birthdays and Christmas on the way, I’ll be doing plenty of shopping here,” said Norton, who also appreciated the store’s selection of Halloween candy and costumes.

“I’ve been waiting for this store to open just so I could shop at its fabric department,” said Debbie Daughtry, who came from Lake Stevens to check out the Marysville Walmart’s selection of fabric bolts. “I told my husband I wanted to be their first customer. Their location is very nice.”

Marysville’s Laura Cole was up by 5:30 a.m. that Wednesday to arrive on time for the Marysville Walmart’s opening, but her husband Ken didn’t rouse himself until 7 a.m. In addition to a new flatscreen TV, Laura Cole was also in the market for underfloor padding for her carpeting, while Ken expressed an interest in “a Subway breakfast” at the in-store shop.

While getting children ready for the day is often a time-consuming process, Marysville mom Aileen Brower managed to get her four kids to the Marysville Walmart in time for its opening after waking them up at 7 a.m.

“It helps that they were very excited,” Brower said. “So am I, to finally have this store here.”

The Marysville Walmart is located at 8713 64th St. NE, and will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.