Verizon Wireless To Hold Grand Opening Celebration For New Communications Store In Florence

FLORENCE, SC — Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest wireless communications provider, today announced it will hold a celebration to mark the grand opening of its new communications store in Florence.

From Sunday, Jan. 21 until Saturday, Jan. 27, wireless customers in the Florence area are invited to visit the communications store, located at 2117 W. Palmetto St., to take advantage of giveaways and register to win a new digital phone. The store will also offer free wireless phone tune-ups, which include software testing, checking power levels and more.

On Friday, Jan. 26 at 11 a.m., Florence Mayor Frank Willis and City Manager David Williams will join Melissa Ethridge, store manager, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. As part of the ceremony, Verizon Wireless will donate a digital phone to the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The following day, Saturday, Jan. 27, customers are invited to enjoy free food and beverages and several giveaways, with WJMX-FM broadcasting live from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

"We hope Florence-area residents will frequent our new location and enjoy all of the grand opening celebration activities we have planned for their benefit," said Melissa Ethridge, store manager. "We are excited about serving the Florence area."

The new 3,600 square-foot communications store is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and on Sunday, 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. A staff of full-time professionals will be available to help customers make decisions about calling plans and select phones and accessories including, headsets and hands-free devices.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with 27.5 million wireless voice and data customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp -- now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 38,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.

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