Walmart is set to open toward the end of the month.

The company has yet to announce an opening date, but store manager John Donnelly says the 116,000 square-foot store will feature a grocery department, a deli, produce, fresh-baked bread, a pharmacy, a McDonald’s, a SmartStyle hair salon, and a electronic section, toy section, sports section, clothing section, and cosmetic section.

The 15th largest Walmart in B.C., the Williams Lake super centre will employ about 220 people by opening day.

Donnelly, who transferred to Williams Lake from Abbotsford, notes that the store’s electronic department is about the same size as the White Rock store’s electronic department.

“In proportion to the size of the store, this is huge,” Donnelly says, adding that the store will also respond to local market needs.

The toy and sports departments, he says, are also larger than some of the other Walmarts.

The big attraction of the Williams Lake store, he says, is the food aspect, as it is one of five Walmarts in B.C. that has a full food grocery section.

When asked what he thinks the impact Walmart will have on other stores in Williams Lake, Donnelly says the smaller, specialized businesses will likely be OK.

“I can’t see us affecting them a great deal,” he says. “I think we’ll hurt the big guys the most.”

He says a lot of stores in Williams Lake, including the grocery stores, “do a great job.”

He notes that Williams Lake is a hub community, so Walmart will bring in shoppers from other areas, which will in turn help other businesses bring in customers, while at the same time, keep local shoppers in Williams Lake. He notes that about $50 million leaves Williams Lake a year due to people shopping elsewhere.

“Why can’t that stay in town?”

“We want to help the other merchants out as well,” adds assistant manager Mike Clark, who formerly worked at the Quesnel Walmart.

Clark says Walmart also wants to help out the community by supporting local charities and organizations.

Several Williams Lake Walmart employees will volunteer as part of a small team to make decisions on what groups Walmart should help support in the city.

“The associates will decide where that money will go,” Clark says. In addition, the company takes part in three corporate fundraises, including the Breakfast Clubs of Canada, the Children’s Miracle Network, and lacrosse.

“Other than that, we do fundraising efforts in the store,” Clark says, adding that Walmart also has a matching-grant program to help organizations.

“We want to contribute to the causes and be a good corporate citizen.”

It is also involved in the Adopt-a-School program to help schools, based on what their needs are.

When Walmart does open, it will be open from 8 a.m. until midnight until Dec. 13. It will then be open 24 hours a day until Dec. 23. It will close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24.