SAM'S CLUB CONFIRMS STORE HERE

It's official: Sam's Club is coming to Cape Girardeau.

Sam's Club officials confirmed plans last week to build a 134,900- square-foot warehouse adjacent to the Wal-Mart Supercenter near the Route K/Siemers Drive intersection.

"We are extremely excited about our plans to open a Sam's Club in the Cape Girardeau area," said Al Johnson, Wal-Mart vice chair~man/Sam's chief executive officer. "Building a club in the Cape market will contribute greatly to the area's long-term growth.

"We hope to give a lot back to the community by playing a significant role in its continued economic development," he added.

Terry Godwin, manager of the Wal-Mart Supercenter here, is also excited about the news.

"I think it will be great for Cape Girardeau and the Southeast Missouri area," said Godwin. "The anticipated increases in traffic for Sam's and Wal-Mart Supercenter should benefit merchants throughout the area."

Godwin added that Sam's and Wal-Mart complement each other. "In other areas where we have a Sam's Club and Wal-Mart, both operations have benefited," he said.

Godwin added that there is little overlap between Sam's and Wal-Mart's merchandise.

"Sam's handles different brands and sells most of its goods in bulk sizes," he said.

"We're always tickled to see new employment come into the community," said Robert Hendrix, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. "We're especially gratified to see 125 jobs plus the local construction work."

Sam's, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., is the largest members-only buying club in the United States, providing name brand merchandise at warehouse prices to businesses and selected employment groups.

Sam's Wholesale Clubs feature two prototype warehouses one of 110,000 square feet and another of 135,000 square feet of no frills, cash-and-carry general merchandise.

The Cape Girardeau warehouse will consist of the latter prototype design, 134,900 square feet.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., purchased the 18.67-acre site just south of the existing Wal-Mart Supercenter last month.

The first Sam's Clubs opened in 1983 in three locations. Since then, more than 100 of the clubs have cropped up.

The Cape Girardeau club will be the 13th in Missouri. A Sam's Club opened last year in Marion, Ill., next to a Wal-Mart store.

Sam's Clubs generally target small business customers who typically do not have the buying power to make volume purchases at low prices.

"Sam's specializes in providing businesses the opportunity to buy products for business needs or resale to their customers," said Johnson.

Business owners and managers are not the only area residents to benefit from Sam's decision to locate in Cape Girardeau.

"The club will employ local construction firms and service industries as needed to build the warehouse," said Johnson. "When the warehouse is completed in early 1994, it will employ approximately 125 associate-partners (the term for Sam's employee)."

Sam's clubs have prospered from the strong financial base and merchandising expertise of Wal-Mart, say company officials. The savvy that Wal-Mart has been able to develop over the years in the area of discount store operations has been put to keen advantage in Sam's Clubs.

Officials point out, however, there are certainly differences between Wal-Mart stores and Sam's: Wal-Mart is open to the public, while Sam's Clubs cater only to members.

Businesses pay a membership fee, usually $25. Group members, such as employees of schools, government and hospitals, can join at no charge and pay a 5 percent surcharge over the posted prices.

A total of 3,500 items will be available at Sam's. This includes a complete line of food products; tires, batteries and other auto supplies; small building equipment and hardware; watches and jewelry; offices supplies, computers and equipment; large and small appliances, including televisions, VCRs and camcorders; home furnishings; designer clothing and sheets and towels.

Sam's here will also feature a "fresh" department, consisting of produce, meat, and deli departments.

"Sandwich shop owners, caterers, restaurants and motel/hotel owners may find advantages to shopping at Sam's `fresh' departments," said Mike Laney, Sam's vice president/divisional merchandise manager who oversees numerous food categories.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. currently operates 1,755 Wal-Mart discount retail stores, 233 Sam's Clubs, four Wal-Mart Hypermart*USA units and 20 major distribution centers across the U.S. Company sales for the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 1992, were $43.8 billion.

In Missouri, the company ope~rates 105 Wal-Mart Stores, 12 Sam's club, and one Wal-Mart Hypermart*USA, located in Kansas City.

The Bentonville, Ark.-based firm employs 19,208 associates in Missouri, 1,904 of them over the age of 55.