On the Edges--Nixa

by Diane Rarick

Since opening Jan. 27, Nixa's biggest retailer has made several large donations to the community, including $3,000 to the Nixa Community Foundation, $1,000 to United Way, $1,500 to the Nixa Parks Board, and $2,300 to Mathews Elementary to help purchase a piano.

"Our opening has been excellent," said Mike Murphy, Wal-Mart general manager. "We were surprised by certain areas. Our grocery sales have just been overwhelming and that was a surprise. Usually grocery doesn't start as well because that's a business you have to build."

Murphy said he believes many grocery shoppers have come to Nixa from other Wal-Mart Supercenters.

"Thirty-two new stores opened on the same day and we were No. 1 in grocery business. We were surprised," Murphy said.

Sales in the dairy department were so high that the Nixa store had to bring in items from other area Wal-Marts, according to Murphy.

Murphy also said he has been told by vendors and customers of Nixa's other grocery stores, Price Cutter and Smitty's, that "we seem to be affecting their business. We may have hurt them. By the way they're reacting, I think something is happening."