Wal-Mart gives its Supermercado concept a tryout

This is a way for the retail stores to be more relevant in the community. We must assume this will bring out the bigotry though, the people who are upset with "press 1 for English" on the phone. - - Donna Poisl

By JENALIA MORENO, Houston Chronicle

When restaurant worker Jorge Castillo goes grocery shopping, he typically isn’t greeted by dozens of food and beverage samples and a mariachi belting out Spanish-language ballads. But during Wednesday’s opening of the Supermercado de Walmart, a party welcomed shoppers.

“It’s something new and different,” said Castillo, who traveled to the Spring Branch-area store from his north Houston home after seeing its advertisements.
In an effort to reach more Hispanic customers, Wal-Mart Stores opened the nation’s first Supermercado in Houston and this summer plans to open a Mas Club, a warehouse outlet for Hispanics, patterned after its Sam’s Club.

The Long Point Road Supermercado was the company’s first in the nation, and shoppers arrived in throngs. The next such store is scheduled to open in May in Phoenix. The retail giant may open more such stores if the format proves successful.
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