Wal-Mart To Close 269 Stores, Including 154 In U.S.

Wal-Mart says most of the stores it plans to close will be gone by the end of the month.

A statement read, “the hope is that these associates will be placed in nearby locations”.

The shuttering of 269 out of Walmart’s 11,600 stores worldwide will represent a loss of less than 1 percent of both the company’s global square footage and revenue, Walmart said in a news release. The lion’s share of the U.S. terminations will affect Walmart Express stores, its smaller store division.

We are continuing to grow, and we’re making smart choices in managing our portfolio.

Of the 154 store closures in the USA, 102 of them are under the Wal-Mart Express name, which were opened as a test in 2011.

In addition, area stores in Clearwater, Ellsworth, Hillsboro and Rose Hill will close.

“We appreciate your business and would be happy to serve your shopping needs through other locations and online at www.walmart.com”, the store said in a status update.

“It’s a shame, isn’t it?” said Glenda Hammontree, 61, who said she makes the 5-minute drive to the store several times a week.

Of the 16,000 associates – or employees – to be affected, 10,000 will be in the United States.

Internationally, Walmart is closing 115 stores, including 60 in Brazil.

Three Florida stores, all rural Walmart Express sites, in Interlachen, Trenton and Cross City, are on the list to be closed.

None of these stores will be closing as part of the restructuring. And internationally the company will add somewhere between 200 and 240 stores.

The Walmart Neighborhood Market in West Hartford is the only CT location that will be closing, the company announced.

The company said their objective is to help their associates find another job. Only 12 U.S. Walmart Supercenters will close, along with four Sam’s Club stores.

Of the affected stores, 154 of them are in the U.S., with two in southern MI, a store in Hartland and a Sam’s Club in Waterford. The retail behemoth said it plans to strengthen its Supercenters and expand online business and store pickup services. “We are supporting those impacted with extra pay and support, and we will take all appropriate steps to ensure they are treated well”.