Inverness Walmart: Celebrating 30 years in business

INVERNESS — Thirty years ago, theater-goers flocked to see “Dirty Dancing.” TV audiences were introduced to those precocious Olsen twins on “Full House.” And folks were “Walking Like an Egyptian” with the Bangles.

It was also the year Inverness Walmart opened its doors in a shopping plaza that, at the time, was considered a bit too far out of the city to draw customers. It was just north of Croft Street, where the Bealls Department store is now.

“It was way, way out of town,” said assistant store manager Lydia Stone, who was among the first group hired back then. “I thought, ‘Why would they build out there?’”

But the community, she said, not only found Walmart, but helped grow the Inverness business district farther north. Walmart stayed in that building until 2003, then moved to its present location at 2461 State Road 44.

All this year, the staff has been celebrating its 30th anniversary in Inverness. Stone said she’s happy to be part of that milestone.

“Walmart becomes your family and after 30 years with the same family, it becomes ingrained,” she said.

Employees, she said, not only see each other at work, but get together socially after hours or take part in some of the charitable events the company sponsors.

When Stone started 30 years ago, she had no retail experience. Her first job was pricing merchandise and unloading trucks. Within the first year, she became a manager and rose steadily though the ranks.

She used to take her daughter to work with her after school, and she got to know the “family” while her mom worked. Today, her daughter, Christyn Keef, is still with her retail family as divisional asset protection manager for Walmart’s main headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Stone said there’s one memory that especially stands out in the past 30 years.

A Children’s Miracle Network fundraising event held a “Kiss a Pig” contest. The manager who raised the most money had to kiss a pig, and she remembers stuffing money into another manager’s jar so that he’d win.

“I remember pulling up in the parking lot, towing a pig for the manager to kiss,” Stone said. “(Manager) Bill Johnson had to kiss the pig, and it was all for charity. It was a win-win!”

In all, seven store associates have been at the store from the beginning.

One of them was Joe Prestigiacomo. He remembers going to a shareholders meeting for Walmart in the 1990s and meeting Helen Walton, wife of founder Sam Walton.

“She met and hugged every associate — she was so nice,” Prestigiacomo said.

Will Stone still be around at the Inverness Walmart another 30 years?

“I don’t think so,” she said. “But Walmart will be.”

Contact Chronicle reporter Michael D. Bates at 352-563-3205, mbates@chronicleonline.com.

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