Recent locations & expansions
National, regional and local businesses are pouncing on the Town of Walker's potential and are locating or expanding in the community. Here are a few recent examples.
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center bought 236 acres in Walker, which is larger than the property on which its main facility in Baton Rouge sits. The medical center breaks ground in the first quarter of 2010 on an emergency room, outpatient diagnostic clinic and physician offices. Future plans call for expanding the facility, including beds for inpatient treatment. Our Lady of the Lake estimates 175,000 patient visits in the first year alone.
Stine Lumber
Stine Lumber just opened a $14 million, 100,000-square-foot home improvement store in the heart of Walker. The store boasts a drive-through lumber yard, appliances and an extensive garden center. President/CEO Dennis Stine told a gathering at the Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce that Walker won out because market research indicated Livingston Parish has a $41 million potential home improvement market, but only one other existing warehouse store.
Compressor Engineering Corporation
Houston-based Compressor Engineering Corporation and CECO Pipeline Services expanded their production, repair and pipeline construction operations with a 44,000-square-foot facility in Walker. The company is the world's largest independent manufacturer of engine and compressor replacement parts. Their customers include gas pipelines, gathering and processing companies, petrochemical, industrial and refrigeration plants worldwide. The Walker site consists of offices, a parts warehouse, machine shop and equipment staging area. CECO President Richard Hotze says the Walker facility is midway between the Irondale, Alabama and Houston, Texas offices of CECO Pipeline Services, a location that will enable the company to provide a quick response to support its eastern Louisiana and western Mississippi pileline customers. Walker was the fourth CECO Pipeline Services office to open in five years. Says Mr. Hotze: "These new facilities position CECO and CECO Pipeline Services to embrace and serve our Louisiana and Mississippi customers, from Acadiana and Greater New Orleans to North Louisiana, from the Mississippi Delta to the Pine Belt and back offshore."
LeBlanc's Grocery
LeBlanc's Grocery opened a 43,000-square-foot store in early 2009. The store boasts a floral department, a deli, an extensive beer selection and fresh sushi served daily, in addition to a full-service supermarket operation. Walker is one of eight locations owned and operated by the fourth-generation independent retailers.
Walmart expansion
The Walker Walmart was one of about 500 stores the chain remodeled nationwide this year. The renovation focused on making the store appear brighter and more open, with wider aisles, low-profile shelving, a bright interior paint scheme, improved lighting and easier-to-read signs. The firm also expanded the electronics department to offer customers a hands-on experience, with interactive displays for hi-definition, Blue-ray, video gaming and portable electronics. The new layout also groups together products that customers purchase the most.
Dow Credit Union
Dow Louisiana Federal Credit Union opened a 5,000-square-foot Financial Resource Center at 28645 Walker South Road. The firm offers full teller and lending services, including business services, deposits, consumer loans, mortgage lending, investment services and more. "We are delighted to provide another new, convenient, full-service location to our member-owners living in the Livingston area," says President/CEO Jeff Hendrickson. "This location provides an added level of convenience for the day-to-day lives of our busy members who live and work in this area."
Smoothie King
In the first four months of 2009, Smoothie King added 32 new locations, pushing the company past 600 locations worldwide. One of those was in Walker. The location is in a busy new retail mall in the heart of Walker on Walker South Road with several new shops and restaurants. Entrepreneur magazine has ranked the firm the 37th fastest-growing franchise and the 57th top global franchise in the nation.
Hibbett Sports
One of the nation's fastest growing specialty sporting goods stores is the anchor store in a newly built retail mall in the heart of Walker. The neighborhood location sells an extensive collection of shoes, sports apparel and equipment.
Snap Fitness
The national express fitness franchise recently opened a state-of-the-art club along busy Walker South Road. Ranked 11th on Entrepreneur magazine's list of "Top New Franchises" and among Success magazine's "10 Franchises We Love," Snap Fitness is experiencing phenomenal growth with 1,000 locations sold nationwide and some 30-40 new locations added monthly.