When the state’s newest Sam’s Club opens Thursday morning a mile west of Peachtree City, shoppers will see a line-up of celebrities that include country music artist Randy Houser, fitness expert Denise Austin, Atlanta Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton and, on Friday, chef and restauranteur Wolfgang Puck.
Hundreds of residents from Fayette and Coweta counties earlier took advantage of a Jan. 20 pre-opening “Evening of Fresh Fare” at the new Sam’s Club at Fischer Crossings commercial center on Ga. Highway 34 in east Coweta.
The invitation-only pre-opening event last Thursday was designed for area business leaders to learn about the fresh food items available at Sam’s Club and how the retailer can help others save money with their entertaining budgets, said company spokesperson Kristy Reed.
Sam’s Club Manager Darrell Arnold said the club wanted to specifically reach out to area hotels, caterers, restaurants, local charities, media outlets and other businesses that frequently entertain in order to pass along fresh ideas on how to be most efficient with their entertaining dollars.
That reach was significant, with nearly 600 people attending the pre-opening event. Some of those attending included elected officials from across Fayette and Coweta counties.
Meantime, Sam’s Club will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting event Thursday morning at 8 a.m. Country music artist Randy Houser will be on hand to sing the national anthem and perform several acoustic songs and to sign autographs from 8-10 a.m. The doors will open for business at 8:30 a.m.
From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. author and fitness expert Denise Austin will make an appearance and sign photographs.
Austin will be followed from 1-3 p.m. by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton and team mascot Freddie Falcon.
And on Friday, chef, celebrity restauranteur and Emmy award winning television host Wolfgang Puck will entertain shoppers and sign autographs from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The Fischer Crossings Sam’s Club also supports area non-profit organizations. Sam’s Club will show its support to several local communities by giving back to the community right from the start, said Reed.
In recognition of the Jan. 27 grand opening, club associates will present $25,000 in donations to charitable organizations in Coweta and Fayette counties. The grant recipients include the Community Welcome House, Corral (Coweta Organization for Riding Rehabilitation and Learning), Coweta County 4-H, Coweta County Fire Department, Coweta County Food Pantry, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Metro Atlanta Boys & Girls Club (Newnan–Coweta County Boys & Girls Club), Newnan–Coweta Cadet Flight (Civil Air Patrol) and the Peachtree City Fire Department.
The 136,000-square-foot mega-store, the company’s largest in the Southeast, employs 200 people.
Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart, requires up-front membership fees before shoppers can stock up on bulk items. Sam’s and Costco are the two warehouse club giants, with BJ’s following at a distant third. BJ’s has a club in Newnan, but the nearest Costco is in Morrow.
