Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Clovis High School's cheerleaders and Wildcadettes helped entertain the crowd at the Clovis Walmart grand reopening ceremony Friday.
The Clovis Walmart held a "grand reopening" Friday, nearly eight months after an alleged arsonist caused $42 million in damages.
An estimated 450 people turned out for the event, including Walmart store personnel, Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce ambassadors, Clovis police, fire and emergence-response personnel and area residents.
Walmart store Manager Johnny Barajas thanked the community for all the help after the catastrophe and during the rebuilding.
Walmart was closed for nearly two months after the fire, then began gradually reopening areas as construction was completed.
Barajas spoke about how four other Walmart locations, including one in Portales, accepted Clovis Walmart personnel so those staff members wouldn't lose their jobs because of the blaze.
Barajas lauded six Walmart associates who have been with the Clovis store since it was located at the south end of the North Plains Mall. Walmart opened in the mall in 1985 before moving to its North Prince Street location in 1999.
A celebratory ribbon-cutting took place on Friday morning.
Clovis Police Chief Roy Rice and Deputy Chief Trevor Thron accepted an appreciation gift basket from Walmart.
The celebration included Barajas recognizing community partnerships with the presentation of grants to local organizations.
Barajas presented a check for $100,000 to Eugene Vallejo, representing a Walmart donation to the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico, which worked to provide additional service to the area after the Walmart store temporarily closed.
Yuri Kaplun, of Hope Children's Home, accepted a $2,000 check from Barajas.
Deborah Endriss, representing 4 All of Us Transitional Reformative House, accepted a check for $1,500.
The Clovis High School drumline, cheerleaders and Wildcadettes were on hand for the event.
Court records show Walmart #821 of Clovis sustained more than $42 million in damages.
Jimmy Guillen, a 59-year-old transient who had been in the area only a few days, is charged with starting the fire early the morning of Sept. 3. The store was closed at the time, though overnight stockers were inside. No one was injured in the blaze.
Guillen remains incarcerated facing federal charges.
