Crowds of shoppers packed Walmart’s new mega-store at Bayonne Crossing yesterday, eager to see what it has to offer.
Long lines at all of the 17 cash registers and a 400-space parking lot filled to capacity were the result as Hudson County’s fourth Walmart opened at the shopping center at Route 440 and New Hook Road.
Shoppers from Bayonne, Jersey City and Staten Island gave the store high marks for customer service, choice, prices and convenience.
Bayonne resident Eileen Palomino, 30, a regular customer of Walmart in Secaucus who was shopping for clothes with her 3-year-old and 15-month-old daughters, said she is excited to have a new Walmart in the city and was happy with the service.
“Every time I needed something, somebody was there to help me,” Palomino said.
“I am tired of going to Secaucus or Kearny. This is just a two-minute ride in the car.”
Judy Whalen, of 44th Street in Bayonne, who was loading shopping bags into her car trunk, said she enjoyed the experience of “one-stop shopping.”
“It has everything you need, food, clothes and electronics. It’s excellent. This is just what Bayonne needs,” Whalen said.
“I am glad they opened on a weekday. It was crowded, but not unbearable.”
Evelyn Addison-Laurie, 59, of Greenville in Jersey City, said she was impressed with how organized the store was on opening day.
“I was expecting it to be extremely crowded and disorganized,” Addison-Laurie said. “I was pleasantly surprised.”
Iliana Sanabria, 39, of Staten Island, came to buy baby products, but ended up filling her cart with groceries, children’s toys and other spontaneous purchases.
“We are excited because it’s close by,” Sanabria said. “I came here for baby items and got more than I came in for.”
Walmart officials said they received a “big welcome” from Bayonne and the surrounding area and had extra staff on duty to cope with the rush.
“It’s been an eye-opener for us,” said co-manager Givoanni Ambrosia, 30, who commutes to the store from Connecticut.
“This is great for the community. We help the customer save money and live better. That is what we are here for.”
By Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal
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