Walmart closes 20 stores (including 4 in Chicago): Local nonprofit rallies to help those impacted

Walmart continues to close stores across the country due to "underperformance."

Photo byBellanoche/Depositphotos.com

(CHICAGO) With Walmart's latest press release announcing store closings, seven Chicago-area Walmart stores will have closed so far in 2023.

It's not just Illinois and the Chicago area that are losing Walmart locations. According to Business Insider, the retail giant is closing 20 stores across 11 states.

A statement from Walmart released on April 11 explains,

"The simplest explanation is that collectively 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."

What are the four Walmart stores closing in Chicago?

• Chatham Supercenter, 8431 S. Stewart Avenue
• Kenwood Neighborhood Market, 4720 S. Cottage Grove Avenue
• Lakeview Neighborhood Market, 2844 N. Broadway Street
• Little Village Neighborhood Market, 2551 W. Cermak Road

What Chicago-area Walmart locations have already closed in Illinois in 2023?

• 6840 N. McCormick Blvd., Lincolnwood
• 12690 S. Route 59, Plainfield
• 17550 S. Halsted St., Homewood

Where are the remaining Chicago Walmart stores?

• 4626 W. Diversey Avenue
• 4650 W. North Avenue
• 10900 S. Doty Avenue
• 7650 S. Ashland Avenue

Will Walmart close its final four Chicago stores?

There are no more announced closings at this time. However, the Chicago stores "face the same business difficulties."

According to Walmart's press release, "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."

Chicago reactions and free meal rally

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in an emailed statement to NBC5 Chicago that she is "incredibly disappointed" and "unceremoniously abandoning these neighborhoods will create barriers to basic needs for thousands of residents."

The local nonprofit group, My Block, My Hood, My City staged a giveaway of 1,000 free meals in the Chatham Walmart parking lot to help residents that are struggling after losing access to affordable food, prescriptions, and other necessities from the Walmart closing.

The Feed the People Rally was a success, according to a Facebook post.

"Thank you to everyone who came out to help volunteer with our Feed The People Rally earlier today. We successfully passed out 1,000 boxes of food to those in need! We must continue to support and uplift each other and that’s exactly what M3 will continue to do!"

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