Sam’s Club opens in E'town

Sam’s Club store in Elizabethtown is set to open Thursday. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled at  8:30 a.m.

The store traditionally serves small businesses, company spokesman Jason Wetzel said. But club members can shop for a variety of bulk and individual household items — from food to furniture to jewelry and clothing. The Elizabethtown store off Ring Road near U.S. 31W will feature a tire center, a deli and a bakery.

The store offers environmentally friendly features, such as skylights and a water preservation system in the restrooms.

Customers buy memberships to shop at the store. Once the store opens, they can sign up at a membership desk to join the club.

Cards for an individual and another family member are $40 per year. Business members receive two cards, plus one for their operation for $35.

At roughly 135,000 square feet, the store will be a typical size. Wetzel has said the store will employ about 180 workers. The average Sam’s employs 150.

The store had been expected to open in late summer or early fall. One of the delays involved a dirt fill issue, a city official said last year. Another was realignment of a stream on the property.

“It’s not unusual for any construction project, large or small, to experience some delays,” Wetzel said.

Sam’s Club, which is a division of Wal-Mart, chose to build a store in Elizabethtown because is it is a “growing community,” Wetzel said. It is the ninth Sam's Club location in Kentucky.