Celebrating New Store, Walmart To Give $11.5K in Grants to Community Groups

The new Walmart opens on Route 58 on Wednesday, and to celebrate, $11,500 in grants will be given to local community groups on Tuesday night.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter, town officials, new store manager Craig Winkler and other store employees, as well as grant recipients, will be onhand for the presentation, which will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the new Walmart location at 1890 Old Country Road; the event is not open to the public and is by invitation only.

Walmart announced a new store manager for the site last week; Winkler will oversee approximately 300 associates, including 85 new hires.

The store is slated to open at 7 a.m. in its new location on Wednesday. The new store will be open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., seven days a week.

Winkler has been a Walmart employee for 18 years. He began his Walmart career as an hourly department manager in sporting goods at the Centereach store and moved his way up to become store manager five years ago. Originally from Port Jeff Station, he is actively involved in fundraisers for the local fire and police departments.

“I’m proud to be a part of a team that is strengthening our local economy by bringing more jobs with great career opportunities to the area,” said Winkler. “I am looking forward to showing area residents our new store and all it has to offer – including convenience and savings for their everyday shopping needs.”

The store relocated from the former Walmart location in Riverhead at 765 Old Country Road.

The new store will include an expanded line of groceries and an assortment of general merchandise.