Store associates, company officials and community partners celebrated a “re-grand opening” at the Walmart on North Main Street last month.

The company upgrades each of its stores every five to seven years, said Shonda Hill, manager of the downtown Suffolk store.

Hill’s store has received new paint inside and out, Americans with Disabilities Act-standard restrooms, revamped home lines and self-checkouts.

“We will be a better shopping experience, especially with the self-checkouts for customers who have only one or two items,” Hill said.

The store’s fabric department, which was removed during the previous remodel, has also been returned.

“Our customers had been pushing and pushing and sending their suggestions into Walmart, and Walmart has decided to bring it back,” Hill said.

“It’s a huge deal for the community, and we have seen an uptick in sales since we put the fabric department back into the store.”

Walmart celebrated with vocal performances by store associates — including the singing of the national anthem — along with speeches, a fashion show with associates modeling the latest looks available at Walmart, and giving away about $53,000.

The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore received $50,000, which the nonprofit’s chief philanthropy officer, Marianne Smith Vargas, said will provide 100,000 meals for people in need through the mobile pantry program.

“It brings hope, it brings smiles, it brings nutrition to folks who don’t have it,” Vargas said.

The program distributed more than a million meals last year, Vargas said, which was only possible with support from partners like Walmart and the Walmart Foundation.

Sharing in the remaining money were Cub Scouts Pack 73, 7 Cities Outreach Saddle Club, Ivor Volunteer Fire Department, Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community, Suffolk Public Library System and the Jeff T. Messinger Fire and Life Education Memorial Fund.

“Every little bit we get helps,” Ivor Volunteer Fire Department’s Scott Bean said.

A $1,000 donation to the Jeff T. Messinger fund will support a Suffolk Fire and Rescue program to provide fire and smoke alarms to folks who can’t afford them.

“If someone doesn’t have a working smoke detector, a firefighter will go to the house and install a smoke detector — and ensure everyone has a working smoke detector,” said Capt. Chuck Chapin, acting fire marshal.

Pam King, an investigator with the fire department, said a life was lost in the city recently for the lack of a smoke detector.