After two decades of serving its community, a local Walmart branch has announced its permanent closure, marking one of 25 Walmart store closures this year.
The store, a favourite among locals since its grand opening in 2004, had become a significant part of the neighborhood. Many customers have voiced their disappointment upon hearing the news, citing the store's convenience as a key factor in their shopping routines.
In addition to customer dissatisfaction, the store's employees were taken aback by the abrupt announcement. Their primary concern is their job security and what this closure means for their futures.
However, Walmart seems to be taking measures to alleviate employee concerns. The company stated that store workers' salaries would be paid through June 14. Also, the employees will be given the opportunity to transfer to other Walmart locations.
As a result, Walmart is hopeful that the majority of the 207 associates affected by the closure will choose to remain within the company, continuing their careers at other nearby stores.
The Alternatives
With the closure of this Walmart store, customers are now left with Target and Ollie's Bargain Outlet as their alternative shopping options. Both these stores will now serve as the primary go-to's for consumers in the area.
Despite the closure, a spokesperson for Walmart expressed gratitude towards the local community for their unwavering support over the past 20 years. The spokesperson praised the loyalty and patronage of the customers that had once filled the aisles of the soon-to-be shuttered store.
The Reason for Closure: A Speculation
The announcement of the closure led to a wave of confusion as to why such a popular store was shutting down. Daraius Irani, an economist at Towson University, proposed that the store could have been facing low profit margins, leading to its closure.
As per Irani, the footfall or volume of people visiting the store greatly factors into its profitability. If fewer people are coming through its doors, then the store's profits will inevitably take a hit.