Walmart might be opening over 100 new stores this year, but not every U.S. location is staying open.
The retail giant confirmed it will permanently shut down a handful of stores across multiple states, citing a push to “optimize store performance” and focus on locations with stronger customer traffic.
If one of the locations on the closure list is your go-to spot, it might be time to start planning for a new grocery run.
Closures are coming soon to:
- Dunwoody and Marietta, Georgia
- Towson, Maryland
- Columbus, Ohio
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Aurora, Colorado
- San Diego, El Cajon, West Covina, Fremont, and Granite Bay, California
Despite the news, Walmart leadership insists the company’s overall health is strong. “Walmart delivered another strong quarter, exceeding our sales, profit, and earnings expectations,” CFO John David Rainey said during the latest earnings call.
CEO Doug McMillon echoed that sentiment, saying the brand is seeing “a healthy top line” and that more shoppers are turning to Walmart because of inflation. “Our prices are low, and we’re becoming more convenient,” he said.
That doesn’t mean Walmart is handing out discounts at every turn. While McMillon emphasized they’re “investing in lower prices and associate wages,” he also pointed out the company is growing profit faster than sales by scaling higher-margin areas like Walmart+ memberships, advertising, and marketplace sales.
He also highlighted improvements in delivery speed and online assortment, saying if he could change anything about Walmart’s image, it would be that more people realize just how wide their online offering has gotten.
In short, Walmart is still growing, still pushing competitive prices, but not every store made the cut as it expands.