The Walmart Supercenter in Niles hosted a grand reopening celebration Friday morning following a 2 1/2-month remodeling project that included the installation of new fixtures throughout the store, a repainting of the building’s exterior and an overhaul of the sporting goods section.

Store Manager Ashlie Bolin said it is the first remodel the 2107 S. 11th St. store has received since the grocery department was added in 1983.

“Our community deserves to come into a nice place to shop and our associates deserve to come to work in a nice atmosphere,” she said. “This was a total transformation. It looks amazing.”

Other improvements, she said, include an expanded selection of grocery items (500 new products), a streamlining of the electronics department and a newly renovated recycling area.

“It is more efficient and more up-to-date now which is big for our community,” Bolin said of the recycling center.

In addition to these changes, Bolin said a company would begin filling potholes in the Walmart parking lot next week.

Bolin also said Niles residents could shop for items at Walmart.com and pick them up at the store through Walmart Pickup.

During Friday’s celebration, Walmart gave away $1,500 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and $1,500 to Ottawa Elementary School in Buchanan.

Bolin said Walmart also made $1,000 donations to the Logan Center for Autism and Rainbow Connection, an organization that grants wishes to sick children.

The Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce also performed a ribbon cutting at the ceremony.

The Niles Walmart employs approximately 300 people.