On Tuesday Walmart announced that it will close four of its stores in Chicago with little notice. The announcement came as a surprise to the community especially after the retail giant made a commitment to expand locations in Chicago as part of its racial justice initiatives in 2020, pledging $100 million to advancing racial equity. In 2021, Walmart’s CEO, Doug McMillion said, “Chicago will be an example of what’s possible when we leverage business, government and community organizations for the good of all.”
The stores closed Sunday, April 16, 2023.
• #5781 Chatham Supercenter, the Walmart Health center, and the Walmart Academy, 8431 S. Stewart Ave.
• #3166 Kenwood Neighborhood Market, 4720 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
• #5645 Lakeview Neighborhood Market, 2844 N. Broadway St.
• #5646 Little Village Neighborhood Market, 2551 W. Cermak Road
With only five days’ notice, Alderman Elect William Hall (6th Ward), IL State Senator Elgie Sims, Alderman Elect, Ronnie Mosely (21st Ward), Cook County Commissioner Stanley More and Il State Representative and Alderman Elect Lamont Robertson (4th Ward) joined Rev. Michael Pfleger and members of the community and asked Walmart representatives to reconsider their decision. Community activists and elected officials protested in front of the Walmart Store located at 8431 S. Stewart Ave.
In addition to the Walmart Supercenter store, this location is also home to a health center and teaching academy. The health clinic provided affordable and accessible healthcare for residents that included primary care, labs, x-ray and diagnostics, counseling, dental, hearing, and optical services at transparent pricing regardless of a patient’s insurance status seven days a week.
The 84th street location reopened in November 2020 and added the Health center and teaching academy. At the time, Walmart representatives said, “These last few months have been especially difficult for this great city, and it has done a remarkable job facing its challenges head-on,” said Keith Wyche, Walmart Vice President, Community Engagement and Support. “We are proud to have the opportunity to reopen these stores and health clinics and further demonstrate Walmart’s commitment to serve as the store of the community. “
In a press release, the company said, "Our Chicago stores have not been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years ago - these stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years. The remaining four Chicago stores continue to face the same business difficulties, but we think this decision gives us the best chance to help keep them open and serving the community.”
A statement Rev. Pfleger disagrees with saying, “If they say they’ve been losing money all these years, then why would you spend so much money remodeling and adding to this store? Big box stores come into the community with great promises and great commitment and when they come in, many “mom and pop” stores go out of business because they can’t compete with a Walmart.”, Pfleger continued, “Now they say they don’t want to be here anymore and leave our communities with large empty buildings and in a desert of resources…that’s not only disrespectful, but that’s also bad business.”
The company said all associates at the store are eligible to be transferred to another Walmart location. The pharmacies at the closing locations will remain open to serve patients for up to 30 days. In addition, a Walmart spokesperson said the company plans to donate to the academy for community use and said residents can go to the store’s Westside Austin location to continue their medical care.
The store’s closing leaves a void in a community that has historically lacked options for fresh and affordable food and produce and access to preventative medical care.
Walmart executives claim that retail theft was also another reason for the store’s closing but have been unwilling to provide loss prevention reports or statistical data on any of their Chicago locations to back up that claim.
“They came back in. They made the money. They remodeled, they expanded and now they are the culprits walking out and they want to blame the community but haven’t supported the community”, Rev. Pfleger said.
The closings represent a complete “about face” by the retailer. In 2020 after the protests following George Floyd’s murder, many feared Walmart would close all eight of its stores but Walmart’s CEO, Doug McMillion joined Mayor Lori Lightfoot in June 2020 and reiterated their commitment to the community. “Walmart’s commitment to Chicago remains strong. We are not going anywhere,” McMillon said.
Alderman elect, William Hall called Walmart’s decision an example of corporate racism saying, “We do not want another abandoned store in this neighborhood. Our seniors deserve better. So, if Walmart doesn’t invest in its people here, we will disinvest in Walmart.”
The group has stated they will boycott all Walmart stores if the retailer does not “come to the table and meet with the community”. “If they think we are going to pack up our dollars and go to another community to shop at Walmart, they are mistaken,” said Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore. Rev. Pfleger reiterated, “If Walmart leaves us then we will leave Walmart”.
State Senator Elgie Simms said since Walmart’s announcement, his office has been inundated with calls from seniors worried about where they will go for their medication and community members concerned about purchasing fresh produce and groceries. “Do what you said you were going to do. You said you would be our partners and stand with us to improve the quality of life in this community. That’s all we are asking. We are demanding that you live up to your word because the community deserves nothing less.”
Current IL State representative and Alderman Elect, Lamont Robinson (4th Ward) expressed his outrage saying, “We wonder why our communities look this way. It’s not just on us. It’s all of the corporate citizens that come into the community and ravage our community. Walmart should be absolutely ashamed. We should not have to go outside of our communities to find jobs, get medicine and to shop. We should be able to do this in our own communities. We deserve that.”
Danielle Sanders is a multimedia professional with over 20 years of experience as a writer, journalist, and editor. Danielle frequently covers politics, local news, and entertainment.