- Walmart’s new 350-acre luxury campus is wooing employees to move to Arkansas, the retail giant says. Employees have access to swimming pools, pickleball courts, a childcare center, and a dozen restaurant options; a complete rebrand from Walmart’s previous drab HQ set-up. It’s joining the ranks of Amazon, Google, and JPMorgan in drawing workers back into the office with luxury offerings.
One might think the No. 1 company on the Fortune 500 for 12 years running must have a luxe set-up in Silicon Valley or on Wall Street—but Walmart is bringing the glitz and glamor to the South. The allure of its redesigned Arkansas campus is bringing employees around to the idea of small-town living, says the retail giant.
“Our candidates that come in are three times more likely to be open to moving to Northwest Arkansas because they’ve come here, they’ve visited, they’ve experienced the area, they’ve experienced our campus, and they feel our culture,” Lorraine Stomski, chief talent officer for Walmart, told Fortune.
The $690 billion retail business is waking up sleepy Bentonville, Arkansas with a state-of-the-art headquarters sprawling over 350 acres. Walmart’s campus is flush with 12 office buildings, designed to feel as comfortable as home; workout facilities including tennis and basketball courts, a swimming pool, and two miles of bike trails; a childcare center; and hotel for guests coming into town. The campus may not have Michelin-star restaurants or Broadway theatres, but it’s wooing many Walmart workers who may crave that duality of suburban life with plush amenities.
“The ability to recruit talent is so much easier now that we’ve built our campus. People really have the desire to come together,” Stomski said. “The candidates that we’re bringing here, they are inspired.”
A look inside Walmart’s new swanky 350-acre campus wooing employees
Walmart opened its new Bentonville HQ in January, and will continue to bring more employees into the fold in phases throughout this year. While the retail giant would not confirm with Fortune how much it cost to build the swanky campus, it’s estimated to be in the hundreds of millions—and the proof is in the pudding.
Walmart’s “home office” used to be housed in massive warehouse facilities marked by linoleum floors, fluorescent lighting, and grey-painted walls. Now, the refurbished HQ embraces warm light, plush furniture, and a bit of play. In an exhibit on campus curating Walmart’s history, employees can even speak with a hologram version of the company’s founder, Sam Walton.
Stomski said Walmart consulted leading technology and learning experts to create the new HQ, designed with the “end user in mind.” That consideration may be one reason why Walmart made Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For list this year. Employees can focus on their wellness with yoga and pickleball classes, hydromassages and cryotherapy, steam rooms, or by taking a stroll through the lush meditation garden. And after working up an appetite, workers can pick one of 12 restaurant options including food trucks, coffee shops, or a rooftop lounge.
Walmart’s luxurious HQ stands out in the small Arkansas town—with a population of less than 60,000—where it’s grown its roots. But the retailer thinks that may be a part of the appeal.
“People feel like it has that small town feel. It does really feel like you’re building, you’re coming into a community, but it does have access to a lot of the larger city amenities,” Stomski said. “It really does have the best of both worlds.”
Other companies luring workers into the office with top-notch eateries and lush walkways
Walmart isn’t the only employer looking to lure employees back into the office with luxury offices. Beer on tap and sleeping pods won’t cut it anymore—so businesses are upping the ante.
Amazon has its futuristic headquarters in Seattle. Its bubbly, open-air sphere structures are surrounded by dog parks, green walkways, and community centers for concerts and outdoor events. Google’s Googleplex headquarters in Mountain View, California touts multiple restaurants, fitness facilities, and lounge areas.
And earlier this year, JPMorgan unveiled its new 60-story HQ in New York City. After asking employees to return to the office five days a week—much to the dismay of many staffers—it figured a luxury set-up on Park Ave would be an incentive. The new space is complete with sky-high terraces, and a decked-out food court featuring 19 restaurants. The $650 billion bank sees the headquarters as a talent strategy to retain star players and bring in new workers.
“It’s become more and more apparent to everybody that a physical place is really important for folks,” David Arena, global head of real estate for JPMorgan, told Fortune. “For their energy, for the way they feel about themselves, and the way they feel about their companies.
