The Sam’s Club in Grapevine is opening again this week — and this time it’s a test site for what the digital future could hold.
The new store doesn’t include any traditional checkouts, so customers can only use its “Scan & Go” option for mobile phones. There’s also technology behind the curtain to boost efficiency for getting folks orders and with making food more quickly. And, the site has been rethought with extra space and more targeted products.
“Strategy-wise, (we want to) make Grapevine a hub for innovations, testing new things,” said Joe Tovi, market manager, Sam’s Club, noting that the city and the region work well for pilots. “You’ll get a good idea on what’s working and what’s not working, how to scale things to the whole, entire company. So we’re going to use this as our testing grounds.”
The warehouse club closed in December of 2022, when it was severely damaged by tornados that ripped through Grapevine. It’s the first of a wave of new stores that the company, part of Walmart, is planning. Sam’s Club hasn’t opened a new store since 2017, according to Allison Van Matre, senior director, corporate communictions.
The chain of stores, which now number about 600, is investing in new ways to use technology as customers increasingly leverage different methods for deciding what to purchase — and how. Tovi said the store tries to embrace a broad approach with shoppers, including those who buy online and get deliveries, those who prefer curbside pickup and the in-store browsers.
Skip the lines
Without the cashier lines, customers use the app on their phones to scan the barcode of each item as they walk through the store’s aisles. Then, when they’re all done, they activate an option on the app to pay. Today, about 30% of Sam’s Club customers use the scan-and-go app option.
As they walk out, tall trusses automatically scan the purchases, double checking to make sure all the items were scanned. And if someone forgot — or maybe needs to add an item — the app enables that. The new store has three trusses compared to the typical two.
Nixing traditional cashier lines addresses a concern from customers: long lines and taking too much time for check-outs, Zak Zakerishojaei, club manager, Grapevine Sam’s Club, said.
And without cashier lines, the entrance to the store feels roomier. The main area greets shoppers with a showcase of larger items, including a vehicle, Christmas tree and more that are available online
“The whole strategy of this is to showcase some .. treasure hunt items,” Tovi said, adding that nudging folks to use the online option can embrace more options to help with renewal rates.
The cafe is getting simpler as well. Now, folks can access a special part of the app to buy a food item from behind the counter — and then pick up the item in an assigned “cubby,” marked with different numbers.
And behind the counter is new technology to speed up food prep with a robot that makes 100 pizzas per hour (before they are cooked), Tovi said. The machine won’t replace the employees but will enable them to better serve customers. In fact, the store itself has more employees overall for helping customers than the typical site, according to Ranin Rasheed, co-manager, Grapevine Sam’s Club.
Shopping differently
Getting folks their curbside orders or deliveries more efficiently is a big focus of the new Sam’s Club. That part of the site gets about 6,000 square feet, roughly four times the typical size to give employees more tools and room for products. In addition, there are boxes with refrigeration and freezer capabilities for keeping food cool during deliveries.
Grapevine also is testing a machine that’s over 10-feet tall and can store picked orders for curbside customers when they arrive. That option will be for other stores with less room. The local Sam’s Club also has a similar machine for tires.
The store covers 151,000 square feet compared to the typical 135,000 or so. That helps enable an open layout that includes wide lanes with sight lines from one side of the interior to the other.
Yet it’s also being efficient with what is offered, It’s providing the most in-demand products–and ensure there’s plenty on hand all day. Extremely high-demand items — such as soda pop — are near loading areas to ensure quick replacements.
The area for “fresh” items is about 30% larger. It includes a fresh sushi island, gourmet cheeses, floral and a sizable assortment of wine. Given the nearby household income levels, it offes some higher-level offerings. For example, there’s a $2,499.99 bottle of Dom Perignon (three liters).
And while the store doesn’t have regular cashier lines, there is a section for jewelry that is staffed by an employee who can handle purchases at a register, given the nature of the expensive items.
The public is invited to a sneak peek on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The grand opening is on Thursday. It is located at 1701 W. State Highway 114 with a fuel station and car wash that opened in the earlier part of this year.
