"Where is the dog food?"

"I'm looking for the toy department."

"Where the heck can I find a loaf of bread?"

Employees at the Quil Ceda Village Walmart heard these questions and many more over the past few months as the store underwent a major remodel.

"It's been a long three months, but the end result is absolutely worth it," exclaimed Mary Jane Hayes, the store's Good Works Coordinator, at reopening ceremonies held the morning of July 22.

On hand to celebrate the achievements were company executives, representatives of the Tulalip Tribes and the City of Marysville, hundreds of store associates and managers, and even a few customers.

Boy Scouts from the Mt. Baker Council performed a flag ceremony and led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an impressive rendition of the national anthem by Walmart employee David Pilkey.

Following a dedication song by tribal singers and drummers, Mayor Dennis Kendall remarked that he rarely gets invited to grand re-openings. "Politicians aren't always around long enough for re-openings," he joked. "Seriously, this store is a real asset to our community and we're pleased to see the many improvements."

The new store is "a shiny new penny that will continue to shine for years," said the company's Market Manager Tom Etchell.

Store manager Lisa Garcia thanked all the associates and managers who helped make the project a success, citing teamwork as the critical element that made everything possible.

Before the official ribbon-cutting, Hayes presented $1,000 checks from the Walmart Foundation to the Mt. Baker Council of Boy Scouts, Pastor Mike Villamor of Turning Point Church in support of the Summer Jubilee, and the Tulalip Police Department to help fund the department's Night Out Against Crime.