On April 13th this year, Walmart decided to shut down five of its Supercenters, literally overnight and to the (bad) surprise of its customers and staff. The stores concerned were Tulsa, Oklahoma, Midland and Livingston, Texas, Pico Rivera, California and Brandon, Florida. A total of 2,200 employees were affected. They were offered a two months paid leave and the possibility to apply for jobs at other locations of the supermarket chain.
Meanwhile, the reasons of these unexpected closures were surrounded with rumors. If the company's official statement involved massive plumbing issues to fix in these five supercenters, various allegations suggested other reasons. For many employees, its a punishment for asking higher wages and being on strike. For some people, the closures are related to Jade Helm 15, a vast military exercise that took place between July 15th and September 15th this year.
Whatever the reasons, the fact is that four of the five stores reopened last week with new layout and reorganised departments. According to Walmart, the fifth location, Brandon, Florida, is due to open in time for the festive season this year.
*Photo: Walmart Wall
News in the same category
Birkenstock has expanded it's reach by opening a second U.S. location in Venice Beach, Calif.
A new vintage clothing shop in Seattle is giving men a chance to craft a distinctive vintage look, and the boutique in Pioneer Square offers a retro look with a decidedly modern twist.
Discount grocer Aldi has announced it will be opening over a dozen new locations in Minnesota, Alabama and North Carolina as part of its $5 billion nationwide expansion plan.
The German discount supermarket chain plans to open no less than 45 stores in California next year. This is the first step of a bold expansion across the country.
