State's 1st Walmart Neighborhood Market Opens

Georgia's first Walmart Neighborhood Market has opened its doors to customers. 

The 44,000-square-foot Market took over the space at Bethesda Walk Shopping Center vacated by Publix in February 2009.

It's about 18 miles from downtown Decatur and is .

Unlike Walmart Supercenters, it sells only groceries -- no hardware, electronics or clothing. The Neighborhood Market opened with little neighborhood opposition, unlike the

The Neighborhood Market in Lawrenceville will employ some 80 full- and part-time workers. The grocery store will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The store at 3059 Lawrenceville Highway in Lawrenceville opened its doors last Wednesday.

"It's my pleasure to welcome Walmart Neighborhood Market to the Lawrenceville area," said Gwinnett County Commissioner Charlotte Nash in a release. "As both a redevelopment project and business that brings 80 job opportunities to the community, this is another big win for Gwinnett County."