Millions of people across the United States rely on Walmart stores for low-cost groceries and other essentials. However, like other large and small retailers, the company has not been affected by store closures. Last year, large stores closed several “underperforming” stores across the country. That’s not the only reason for the closure. Over the past few months, multiple Walmart stores have suffered large, intentionally set fires. There are currently concerns about the future of the affected sites. Read below to find out why shoppers are worried that some Walmart stores won’t reopen.
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In 2022, several Walmart stores went up in flames. In August, a Walmart in Peachtree City, Georgia, closed after a 14-year-old girl set fire to the paper goods section of the store, severely damaging the store, according to Fox 5 Atlanta.
The following month, the retailer had to temporarily close its Selma, Alabama location after a small fire broke out behind the store on September 30. Selma Sun report. The same Selma Walmart closed in November after the store was set on fire again, damaging several areas, including the men’s clothing and children’s departments.
This is not the only fire. Other local news reports show retailers have experienced fires in cities such as Hammond, Louisiana. Webster, New York. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Barnwell, South Carolina. Several fires now raise concerns about certain locations reopening.
The Georgia Walmart store appears to have been hit hardest by the fire.
In May 2022, Walmart was forced to temporarily close its stores after a fire broke out in its Atlanta clothing department, CBS 46 reported. The same store on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive was recently intentionally set on fire just before Christmas and targeted again, he reported 11Alive.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, Walmart Store 3008 will be closed all day,” the location’s official Facebook page, posted Dec. 24, directed customers to another nearby Atlanta Walmart on Howell Mill Road.
A few days later, a fire also broke out at a Walmart on Howell Mill Road. Atlanta police and fire departments were called to the location after a fire broke out in the store’s clothing section on Dec. 28, according to 11Alive.
“Unfortunately, due to an emergency, our store is temporarily closed,” the second Walmart store in Atlanta wrote on its official Facebook page. We are continuing to work with them and will resume as soon as possible.”
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Two stores in Atlanta are still closed after a fire in late December. On January 13th, both locations posted updates on their official Facebook pages.
A Walmart located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive reads, “Hello to my Walmart family! Unfortunately our location is temporarily closed.
Another store issued a similar notice: “Good Morning Customers, 1801 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta GA Walmart is temporarily closed. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
In both posts, separate Walmart stores advised customers to shop elsewhere in Atlanta during the ongoing closures.
A Walmart store on Howell Mill Road says, “Come to our Cascade location for service. Our Cascade store in Atlanta is on Research Center Drive, about a 15-minute drive from our Howell Mill location, Martin Luther King The Jr. Drive store is a 20 minute drive.
Walmart has restored service in most locations after the massive fire. In December 2022, the retailer partially reopened its Peachtree City stores after a devastating fire four months earlier. Atlanta Journal Constitution report. Walmart quickly repaired the roof at the location and reopened parts of the store for holiday shoppers, but other damage from the fire is still visible, the newspaper said.
According to 11Alive, the company is also repairing its Howell Mill Road store in Atlanta. News outlets reported seeing work being done at the location on January 16.
But the same cannot be said for the other Atlanta Walmart on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. When 11Alive stopped by the store the same day, 11Alive reported that the entrance to the store was boarded up and there were no signs of work being done. and has caused concern among customers.
In the latest Facebook post on Jan. 13, one person commented, “It says it’s permanently closed.”
best life I contacted Walmart about their store on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, but have yet to hear back.However, the Atlanta City Council Byron Amos According to 11Alive, they recently issued a statement regarding the location, indicating that nothing has been decided.
“Recently, there has been growing speculation that there are ongoing concerns about the temporary closure of a Walmart store in Vine City on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive,” Amos said. “I am in ongoing communication with Walmart’s business and store management. At this time, Walmart has not made any decisions about next steps for the location.”
The city councilor said, “For now, information about store closures is just a rumor.My office is working with Walmart to plan the store’s next possible course. We recognize the deep void that we have left, and are committed to working with Walmart, NPU-L, and members of the community to find a successful solution to this ongoing store closure.”
