Menards Plans Nine-Day Grand Opening Celebration

The big money-saving at the new Menards in Evergreen Park officially starts this Saturday when the home-improvement mega store kicks off a nine-day grand opening celebration.

The celebration features celebrity pop-ins, daily prize giveaways, product demonstrations and deals on merchandise.

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Menards had a soft opening on April 30 and is the first store to open in the ambitious redevelopment of the former Evergreen Country Club golf course.

“Menards is killing me. There’s too much good stuff,” Mayor Jim Sexton said. “I spent $500 between flowers and lights and all kinds of stuff I didn’t know I needed.”

The mayor said he saw many familiar local faces working at the store. A typical Menards staffs about 150 employees.

“Eighty-percent of the people who work at that store can walk to work,” Sexton said.

The 200,000-square-foot “super” Menards offers a full-service lumberyard, garden center, lighting, plumbing supplies, hardware, doors, windows, flooring, cabinets, appliances, patio furniture, home décor and convenience groceries.

The family-owned home-improvement chain has built its business by offering low prices and operates 279 Menards stores in 14 Midwestern states.

The Evergreen Park Menards grand opening celebration begins Saturday May 11, and runs through Sunday May 19. The store is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. The store is located at 9100 S. Western Ave.

Scheduled special events include:

• John Cage, chainsaw carver, daily demonstrations, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 11 through May 14
• Dan Hampton, former 1985 Chicago Bears defensive end, 6 to 8 p.m. May 13 (two free autographs).
• Otis Wilson, former 1985 Chicago Bears linebacker, 6 to 8 p.m. May 15 (two free autographs)
• Jack McDowall, former Chicago White Sox pitcher, 1993 Cy Young Winner, 6 to 8 p.m. May 16 (two free autographs)

Racing appearances:

• Paul Menard’s 2011 Indy Brickyard #27 car and Matt Crafton’s #88 truck, noon to 8 p.m., May 13-15
• Matt Crafton, NASCAR truck series driver, Menards-sponsored Toyota Tundra #88, 5 to 7 p.m. May 14 (two free autographs)
• Mr. Clean, Proctor & Gamble spokesman, noon to 5 p.m. May 18 (unlimited free autographs)