At the corner of First and H Streets in Northwest Washington, the balloons were all set, hanging stories high in the cold morning air. The inflatable Pepsi and Mountain Dew bottles were twisting in the breeze, and a mini-hoop game was set up. There was even a marching band and Chester the Cheetos Cheetah.

The time had finally come for Washington, D.C. — the last holdout in the lower 48 —to get its first two Walmart stores. In 1996, Vermont was the last state to go Walmart blue. Now it’s Washington’s turn, and four more stores are planned.