Lebanon's new Sam's Club looked immaculate as employees set up shiny electronics, neatly stacked box merchandise and perfectly folded clothes in preparation for opening day.
In a city experiencing a number of new commercial entries, Wilson County's first Sam's Club opens for its first official full day of business on July 30. A soft opening for members is scheduled from 5 pm. to 8 p.m., July 29.
"It's going to be convenient," said Lebanon resident Robin Flynn about the new Sam's Club that makes the fifth in Middle Tennessee. "As long as Sam's and the expansion (into) Lebanon brings infrastructure, I guess I'm all for it."
Sam's Club, a division of Walmart, is a membership-only retail store similar to Costco or BJ's Wholesale Club.
The nearly 170,000-square-foot
Lebanon store at 600 Willard Hagan Drive was initially set for an early 2026 opening, but the company pushed it back to make design and layout changes. A Sam's Club fuel station on Willard Hagan Drive has been open since December.
The new store is next to the site of a future Target store and is close to South Hartmann Drive in a continually emerging commercial area that drew a new In-N-Out restaurant in December.
This is the first new Sam's Club to introduce the company's new branding displayed throughout the store.
"We really wanted to resonate well with our members around the fact that we wanted it to be their club and that new branding I think represents that," Sam's Club Chief Operations Officer Steve Schrobilgen said. "It also does the same for our associates."
The layout includes connecting health and wellness sections that include the pharmacy, optical and ear departments. There is also a dedicated 3,500-square-foot pickup area with 30 parking spaces dedicated for those customers.
A large fresh food area and bakery footprint, an indoor cafe and the brand's only outdoor cafe in the country are also part of the store.
Danielle Woods manages the Lebanon store with approximately 150 employees. The store is carrying a number of local products.
Sam's Club opening day in Lebanon July 30
A ribbon cutting is scheduled at 8 a.m., July 30 with local officials and Sam's Club leadership to celebrate opening day.
Sam's Club will present $15,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations that will include local recipients Empower Me Center, Joseph Storehouse Food Ministry, Lebanon High School Band and Wilson County CASA.
Meet and greet appearances on July 30 include:
- 10 a.m. to noon: Maren Morris, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter. Morris will have an exclusive clothing collection Edited by Maren Morris at the store.
- 1-3 p.m.: Television personality Tyler Cameron and Tate Madden with TINKR's Weekend Projects Club.
Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Bruce Matthews will be at the Sam's Club in Lebanon at 10 a.m. to noon, July 31.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Get a first look inside new Sam's Club Lebanon store, opening soon
