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April 13, 2023: Walmart is closing four stores in Chicago, including a Supercenter and three neighbourhood markets, as part of its program to shutter 15 stores this year. The move comes after the retailer reported retail theft across the US earlier this week. Walmart had previously invested in the Chicago market, spending $70m on store upgrades and constructing a health centre and training centre in Chatham. However, the four stores being closed have not been profitable since the first one was opened 17 years ago, and losses have doubled in the last five years. Associates from the closing stores will be eligible to work at other Walmart locations in Chicago and will be paid until August 11, 2023, unless they transfer to another store.
The closed locations include a neighbourhood market in Kenwood, Lakeview, Little Village and the Chatham supercenter on the city’s South Side. The latter has already been closed for six months after being damaged during the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Walmart will also close a health centre and a Walmart Academy job training centre.
Walmart’s CEO Dough McMillon has previously stated that, despite losses, the company remained committed to Chicago. The four remaining Walmart stores in the city will continue to operate. As of January 31, 2023, Walmart had 5,317 retail locations in the US, including 3,572 Supercenters and 682 Neighborhood Markets. Walmart has attempted to improve its Chicago stores by building smaller units and selling local farm food and locally made products.
