Walmart will close 6 stores starting next week

With more than 10,500 stores in 24 countries, Walmart continues to be one of the most profitable companies in the world. But despite its grip on the retail sector, not all of its locations have met the retailer’s goals.

This week, the Arkansas-based supermarket chain announced it would close half a dozen stores in four states, with the first closing due next week.

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On February 17, Walmart will close its pickup-only location in Lincolnwood, Illinois, with the company telling CBS 2 that “the decision was not made lightly and was only made after a thorough review process”.

“As this is a pickup and delivery location only, we’ve taken what we’ve learned from this location and incorporated it into how we operate pickup and delivery in our surrounding stores,” the company said.

After Lincolnwood closes, Walmart will close two more stores in the Chicago area, one in Homewood and another in Plainfield. According to the retailer, the stores will cease operations by March 10 because they failed to meet financial expectations. “Tthere is no single cause why a store closes and our decision is based on several factors.”

One shopper told Fox 32 Chicago the move was “a big success for the community” because of Walmart’s affordable pricing, while others said the store was “always busy.”

Another location closing by March 10 is Walmart’s Silver Spring Drive store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and its San Mateo store in Albuquerque, NM Walmart spokeswoman Lauren Willis told the Albuquerque Journal that the The company does not plan to close any additional stores in Albuquerque.

The two impending closures have raised concerns about food deserts, with Milwaukee Alderman Mark Chambers Jr. writing in a press release that he has “already begun working with the city’s Department of Development to identify options for possible replacements”.

In the South, the hypermarket will close its Walmart neighborhood market in Pinellas Park, Florida by March 10. As with other closures, Walmart said the store did not meet the company’s financial expectations, with Brian Little, director of communications at Walmart, adding that no further closures are expected in the Tampa Bay area.

Brianna Ruback