Walmart Streamlines Operations, Announces Closure of Another Store, Affecting Local Job Market

Walmart is set to close another store next month, marking its seventh shutdown this year. The closure will result in 105 employees losing their jobs.

Milwaukee Walmart Set to Close Doors

According to The U.S. Sun, the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Milwaukee's Fair Park area is scheduled to shut down. Shoppers have until May 17 to make their final purchases at this location.

Walmart has officially notified the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and County Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson about the closure with a letter sent on April 19. As a result, 105 employees at this store will be laid off.

Fortunately for local customers, the closure doesn't mean a long trip to another Walmart. A Walmart SuperCenter is located just over three miles away in West Milwaukee. Additionally, Milwaukee is home to 11 other Walmart stores of varying sizes.

The company has encouraged the displaced workers from the Fair Parks store to seek employment at other nearby Walmart and Sam's Club locations.

Company officials stated that the two stores in California and Wisconsin were closed because they were not profitable.

This closure is part of a broader trend for the retailer in 2024, with six other stores nationwide having closed their doors this year.

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Eight More Walmarts Close This Year

As reported by the Daily Mail, Walmart has closed eight stores so far in 2024, following the shutdown of 23 locations last year. California has been particularly affected, with four closures this year alone.

On February 9, the retailer closed two stores in California: a Neighborhood Market in San Diego and a standard Walmart in El Cajon, 16 miles from San Diego.

Another significant closure was a Supercenter in West Covina, located 20 miles east of Los Angeles, which shut its doors on March 29.

The most recent closure in California was a store in the Sacramento area, which ceased operations on April 12.

According to Business Insider, Walmart spokesperson Brian Little expressed gratitude for customers' patronage at the recently closed stores in San Diego and El Cajon. "We are thankful to the customers who have allowed us the honor of serving them," Little said.

He added that Walmart hopes to continue serving these customers through its remaining locations, online platform, and home or business delivery services.

In response to the closures, Walmart has confirmed that all affected employees can transfer to other locations. The company maintains a strong presence in each local market, operating more than a dozen stores and warehouse clubs.

As of February, Walmart operates over 4,600 retail outlets across the U.S., including 3,560 Supercenters, 360 discount stores, and 675 neighborhood markets. Additionally, the company owns nearly 600 Sam's Club warehouses.

Walmart has announced that several stores failed to meet financial targets, leading to nationwide closures. Social media users, however, have pointed to crime and shoplifting as contributing factors at these locations.

The wave of shutdowns began with a store in Columbus, Ohio, which closed its doors on February 16. Shortly after, California experienced another loss when the West Covina store ceased operations on March 29.

The closure spree continued on the East Coast, with the Towson, Maryland store, just outside Baltimore, closing on April 5.

Related Article: Walmart Continues Downsize with Latest Store Closure, 105 Employees Affected