Office Depot To Celebrate Grand Opening Of Its New Store In Winter Haven, Fla., With Ribbon-cutting Ceremony Featuring NASCAR(R) Star Tony Stewart

Office Depot (NYSE: ODP), celebrating 25 years as a leading global provider of office supplies and services, today announced that the Company will celebrate the grand opening of its new store located at 800 Cypress Gardens Blvd. in Winter Haven, Fla., on Wednesday, June 29. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

NASCAR(R) star Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala in the NASCAR(R) Sprint Cup Series(TM), will participate in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony during the grand opening event. As a part of the opening ceremony, Stewart will assist The Office Depot Foundation with check presentations and the donation of new children's sackpacks containing essential school supplies to three local non-profit organizations: Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven, Winter Haven Police Athletic League and Family Emergency Services of Winter Haven.

The two-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series(TM) champion will also hold an autograph session for 600 fans at the special event. A replica of Stewart's No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 show car will be on display in the store's parking lot, along with racing simulators for fans to enjoy.

"I'm really excited to be a part of the grand opening celebration for this new Office Depot store in Winter Haven," said Stewart, who will be racing at Daytona International Speedway this weekend. "It's going to be a great day for everyone involved, and I look forward to supporting the contributions being made by The Office Depot Foundation to local non-profit organizations."

Publix Super Market will provide cake and ice cream during the event and the super market's mascot, Plato the dinosaur, will also be in attendance. Customers can buy a Boar's Head Hot Dog and soda for $2.00 with all proceeds going to Children's Miracle Network. An Office Depot "MYSTERY CARD" will also be awarded to customers who make a store purchase, revealing a special coupon offer for use on their next purchase.

An Inside Look at the New Office Depot Store in Winter Haven

According to Winter Haven store manager, Teresa Hill, the new store features a number of upgrades designed specifically with the customer in mind, including colorful and clear signage, and carpeted floors for a warmer feel. The floor plan is simple to navigate with a layout that is intuitive, logical and convenient for the customer to shop.

Products are grouped together in highly visible, strategically located "pods," with core office supplies on one side of the store and consumer electronics on the opposite side - all signed for optimal visibility and ease of purchase. The furniture area has also been updated with additional product lines and assortments, and is located in the back of the store to better support consultative sales.

The front end of the store has been simplified to feature Office Depot's Copy & Print Depot and Tech Depot Services, both of which are conveniently located adjacent to the cash registers.

The Winter Haven Office Depot store employs approximately five full- and 16 part-time associates. It houses more than 7,500 technology, furniture and supply products as well as technology and copy & print services in about 20,000 square feet of selling space.

The store hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The telephone number is 863-293-3249.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Highlights

Special guests scheduled to participate in the June 29 ribbon-cutting ceremony include:

Non-Profit Organization Representatives

Peggy Threlkel, Executive Director; Tiffani Gozdur, Board President; and Kim Hulverson, Past President, Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven

Officer Derrick Doles, Executive Director, Winter Haven Police Athletic League

Diana "Dee Dee" Woodhead, Executive Director, Family Emergency Services of Winter Haven

Government Officials

Jeff Potter, Mayor, City of Winter Haven

JP Powell, Mayor ProTem, City of Winter Haven

Nathaniel Birdsong, City of Winter Haven Commissioner, Seat 2

Jamie Beckett, City of Winter Haven Commissioner, Seat 4

Steven Hunnicutt, City of Winter Haven Commissioner, Seat 5

Dale Smith, City Manager, City of Winter Haven

Deric Feacher, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Winter Haven

Michael Stavres, Community Services Director, City of Winter Haven

Hiep Nguyen, Technology Services Director, City of Winter Haven

Kim Hansell, Utilities Director, City of Winter Haven

David Dickey, Community and Economic Development, City of Winter Haven

Sheandolen Dunn, Deputy City Clerk, City of Winter Haven

R. Todd Dantzler, Polk County Commissioner, District 4

Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Representatives

Bob Gernert, Executive Director

Amanda-Jo Nicholson, Membership Liaison

Andrea Cruz, Communications Manager

Chamber Dignitaries

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