CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Walmart will close four of its Chicago stores, effective Sunday, the corporation announced on Tuesday.
In its statement, Walmart said the main reason for the closures is because the company’s Chicago locations lose tens of millions of dollars each year.
The four Walmart stores that are closing are located at 84th Street and Stewart Avenue in Chatham, 47th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue in Kenwood, 2844 N. Broadway in Lakeview, and 2551 W. Cermak Road in Little Village.
Walmart associates who work at the closing stores will be eligible to transfer to any other Walmart or Sam’s Club location, company officials wrote in a press release. They added that all associates will be paid until Aug. 11, 2023, unless they transfer to another store during that time. Hiring managers will be in each of the four stores “this week,” officials wrote.
The pharmacies at all four locations will remain open to serve the public for up to 30 days.
The company said it has invested millions of dollars in Chicago, including $70 million to upgrade stores, build two Walmart Health facilities and a Walmart Academy over the past couple of years.
“It was hoped that these investments would help improve our stores’ performance,” officials wrote. “Unfortunately, these efforts have not materially improved the fundamental business challenges our stores are facing.”
Walmart said it intends to donate the Walmart Academy, which is located in the parking lot of the Chatham Walmart on South Stewart Avenue, to the community and nearby neighborhoods. The big box retailer said it will work with local leaders to help find reuse options for its closing stores.
Related
Related
Listen to our new podcast Courier Pigeon
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!